ECO C40 · King's Pawn Game

King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6

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

3. Nxe5+1.45

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense (C40), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Nxe5 for White. White is clearly better (+1.45).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.453. Nxe5 Qe7 4. Nf3 d5 5. d3 dxe4 6. dxe4 Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Bf5
  2. +1.393. Bc4 Nc6 4. d4 d6 5. h3 Nge7 6. d5 Nb8 7. a4 g6
  3. +1.113. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bc4 d6 5. d4 Bg4 6. d5 Nd4 7. Be3 Nxf3+

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Nxe5 for White, continuing Qe7 4. Nf3 d5 5. d3 dxe4 6. dxe4 Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Bf5. White is clearly better (+1.45). The next best moves are 3. Bc4 (+1.39) and 3. Nc3 (+1.11).
Is the King's Pawn Game: Damiano Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.45: white is clearly 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 Pawn Game: Damiano Defense?
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+).