ECO C40 · King's Knight Opening

King's Knight Opening

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3

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

2… Nc6+0.33

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Knight Opening (C40), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… Nc6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.33).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.332… Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Bd3 d6 7. Qe2
  2. +0.412… Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O
  3. +0.472… d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Bf4 O-O 7. Qd2

All King's Knight Opening variations (2)

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Knight Opening?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… Nc6 for Black, continuing 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Bd3 d6 7. Qe2. White is slightly better (+0.33). The next best moves are 2… Nf6 (+0.41) and 2… d6 (+0.47).
Is the King's Knight Opening a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.33: 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 King's Knight Opening?
C40. 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+).