ECO C00 · Rat Defense

Rat Defense: Small Center Defense

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d6

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

3. Nf3+0.72

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Rat Defense: Small Center Defense (C00), reached after 1. d4 e6 2. e4 d6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Nf3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.72).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.723. Nf3 d5 4. Nbd2 c5 5. exd5 exd5 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Nxd7
  2. +0.643. Bd3 e5 4. c3 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. O-O Ne7 7. dxe5 dxe5
  3. +0.603. c3 Nf6 4. Bd3 b6 5. Nf3 Be7 6. c4 c5 7. d5 Nbd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Rat Defense: Small Center Defense?
After 1. d4 e6 2. e4 d6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Nf3 for White, continuing d5 4. Nbd2 c5 5. exd5 exd5 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Nxd7. White is slightly better (+0.72). The next best moves are 3. Bd3 (+0.64) and 3. c3 (+0.60).
Is the Rat Defense: Small Center Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.72: 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 Rat Defense: Small Center Defense?
C00. 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+).