ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Two Knights Variation

1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3

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

3… d4−0.10

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Two Knights Variation (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… d4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.10).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.103… d4 4. Ne2 c5 5. b4 a6 6. bxc5 Bxc5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. c3
  2. +0.113… Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. d4 c5 6. Ne2 Qb6 7. c3 Nc6 8. a3
  3. +0.333… Be7 4. d4 Nf6 5. Bd3 c5 6. exd5 exd5 7. dxc5 O-O 8. O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Two Knights Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… d4 for Black, continuing 4. Ne2 c5 5. b4 a6 6. bxc5 Bxc5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. c3. The position is roughly equal (−0.10). The next best moves are 3… Nf6 (+0.11) and 3… Be7 (+0.33).
Is the French Defense: Two Knights Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.10: the position is roughly equal. 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: Two Knights Variation?
C00. 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+).