ECO C44 · King's Pawn Game

King's Pawn Game: Dresden Opening

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4

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

3… Bc5−0.35

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Pawn Game: Dresden Opening (C44), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… Bc5 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.35).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.353… Bc5 4. Nc3 d6 5. d3 a5 6. a3 Nge7 7. g3 Bg4 8. h3
  2. −0.043… Nf6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. d3 d6 6. a3 Bc5 7. b4 Bb6 8. Na4
  3. +0.103… f5 4. d4 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 exd4 6. Nxd4 fxe4 7. Qh5+ Kf8 8. Be3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Pawn Game: Dresden Opening?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… Bc5 for Black, continuing 4. Nc3 d6 5. d3 a5 6. a3 Nge7 7. g3 Bg4 8. h3. Black is slightly better (−0.35). The next best moves are 3… Nf6 (−0.04) and 3… f5 (+0.10).
Is the King's Pawn Game: Dresden Opening a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.35: black 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 Pawn Game: Dresden Opening?
C44. 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+).