ECO B00 · Nimzowitsch Defense

Nimzowitsch Defense: Franco-Nimzowitsch Variation

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 e6

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3. d4+0.80

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Nimzowitsch Defense: Franco-Nimzowitsch Variation (B00), reached after 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 e6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. d4 for White. White is clearly better (+0.80).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.803. d4 d6 4. c3 Nf6 5. Bd3 e5 6. O-O g6 7. Re1 Bg7
  2. +0.433. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 d5 5. e5 Ne4 6. Ne2 d4 7. c3 d3
  3. +0.293. c4 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nc3 Qa5 7. Bb5 Ne7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Nimzowitsch Defense: Franco-Nimzowitsch Variation?
After 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 e6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. d4 for White, continuing d6 4. c3 Nf6 5. Bd3 e5 6. O-O g6 7. Re1 Bg7. White is clearly better (+0.80). The next best moves are 3. Nc3 (+0.43) and 3. c4 (+0.29).
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Franco-Nimzowitsch Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.80: 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 Nimzowitsch Defense: Franco-Nimzowitsch Variation?
B00. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

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