ECO C03 · French Defense

French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Guimard Defense, Thunderbunny Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. c3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 e5

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

6. d5+0.30

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Guimard Defense, Thunderbunny Variation (C03), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. c3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. d5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.30).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.306. d5 Nce7 7. Nf3 Qxd5 8. Qxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxe5 c6 10. Be2 Bf5
  2. +0.276. Qe2 Qd5 7. dxe5 Bf5 8. Ng3 Be6 9. f4 O-O-O 10. Nf3 h5
  3. +0.256. Nf3 exd4 7. Bd3 Be7 8. Qe2 Bg4 9. O-O Qd5 10. Neg5 Nf6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Guimard Defense, Thunderbunny Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. c3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. d5 for White, continuing Nce7 7. Nf3 Qxd5 8. Qxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxe5 c6 10. Be2 Bf5. White is slightly better (+0.30). The next best moves are 6. Qe2 (+0.27) and 6. Nf3 (+0.25).
Is the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Guimard Defense, Thunderbunny Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.30: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Guimard Defense, Thunderbunny Variation?
C03. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).