ECO B00 · Nimzowitsch Defense

Nimzowitsch Defense: French Connection

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nc3 e6

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

3. d4+0.64

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Nimzowitsch Defense: French Connection (B00), reached after 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nc3 e6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.64).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.643. d4 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 e5 6. Nf3 d6 7. h3 Nf6
  2. +0.503. Nf3 Nf6 4. d4 Bb4 5. Bd3 d5 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bd2 Bxc3
  3. +0.123. Nge2 d5 4. d4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6 6. Nxf6+ Qxf6 7. Be3 Nb4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Nimzowitsch Defense: French Connection?
After 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nc3 e6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. d4 for White, continuing Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 e5 6. Nf3 d6 7. h3 Nf6. White is slightly better (+0.64). The next best moves are 3. Nf3 (+0.50) and 3. Nge2 (+0.12).
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: French Connection a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.64: 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 Nimzowitsch Defense: French Connection?
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+).