Chess Openings Lab
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French Defense: Alapin Gambit

The Alapin Gambit is 3.Be3 in the French, guarding d4 with the bishop and leaving e4 to be taken. White hopes for quick development with Nd2, c3 and Qc2 to regain e4, while Black can grab the pawn with 3...dxe4 and keep a solid game.

Moves
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Be3
ECO
C00
Engine
−0.58 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
418 games in our lichess sample
White scores
55.1%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After 3...dxe4, 4.Nd2 hits e4 and plans to recapture with the knight; c3 and Qc2 add support.
  • f3 is a sharper way to open lines against the e4 pawn, accepting more risk for faster development.
  • If Black declines with 3...Nd7 or 3...Bd7, play Nc3 or Nd2 and keep a normal center.

Black

  • Take with 3...dxe4. Then ...Nf6, ...Be7 and castling come easily, with ...Nd5 to hit the e3-bishop.
  • 3...Bd7 aims for ...Bc6 against e4 after the central trade, adding a piece to the fight.
  • 3...Nd7 4.Nc3 Bb4 brings a pin on the c3-knight and keeps the center tense.

Plans and pawn structure

If Black takes on e4, the structure is White's d4 pawn against Black's e6, with no d-pawn for Black and no e-pawn for White. Black gets easy squares on d5 and f5 for the pieces. White wants to win e4 back and then use the space from d4 with Bd3 and castling. Black should develop, castle and play ...c5 to hit d4.

Where the engine's main line heads: White pawn d4, no e-pawns for White, no d-pawn for Black. White has a pawn on d4 and no e-pawn; Black has no d-pawn. White has more central space; Black's pieces are free and the d4 pawn is a target.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.58: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.58 3...dxe4 4.Nd2 Nf6 5.c3 Be7 6.Qc2
  2. +0.33 3...Bd7 4.Nd2 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bc6 6.Nd2
  3. +0.49 3...Nd7 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.e5 Ne7 6.a3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

418 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 55.1%.

1200–159941.8%
1600–199957.5%
2000 and up61.2%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

Accept the pawn with 3...dxe4 and develop normally with ...Nf6, ...Be7 and castling. Don't hang on to e4 at all costs; returning it after ...Nd5 and castling leaves Black comfortable. Avoid an early ...f5 to protect e4, which weakens e6.

Questions

What are the moves of the French Defense: Alapin Gambit?

The French Defense: Alapin Gambit starts 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Be3. Its ECO code is C00.

Is the French Defense: Alapin Gambit good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.58 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 418 lichess games from our sample, White scored 55.1%. A rare surprise weapon; the bishop on e3 often becomes a target, so Black is comfortable after accepting.

What is the main idea of the French Defense: Alapin Gambit?

White develops the c1-bishop early and offers the e4 pawn for quick piece play. Black's simplest answer is to take on e4, develop and castle, then use ...Nd5 against the e3-bishop.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is dxe4, with Bd7 and Nd7 close behind. 3...dxe4 takes the pawn, and White has to spend moves with Nd2, c3 and Qc2 to get it back.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.