Chess Openings Lab
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French Defense: Orthoschnapp Gambit

The Orthoschnapp Gambit is 2.c4 d5 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Qb3, where White hits d5 and b7 with the queen. White offers e4 for quick play against f7, while Black takes the pawn and defends f7 with ...Qe7.

Moves
1.e4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Qb3
ECO
C00
Engine
−1.09 · a clear edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
282 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.4%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After ...dxe4, play Bc4 to form a battery with the queen against f7.
  • Develop with Nc3 and d4, as the engine line does, to regain the e4 pawn later.
  • Against ...Nf6, push e5 and play d4 for a central space edge.
  • Keep your king safe: lines with ...Qe7 and checks on the e-file can turn on White fast.

Black

  • Take with 4...dxe4, the engine's top choice, and defend f7 with ...Qe7.
  • Kick the c4 bishop with ...c6 and ...b5, gaining queenside space with tempo.
  • Develop the f8 bishop to c5 or d6 and castle before White's pieces get going.
  • ...Nf6 and ...Nc6 develop quickly while White spends time on queen moves.

Plans and pawn structure

After 4...dxe4 5.Bc4 Qe7 White has a battery on f7 but no pawn on e4, and Black covers f7 and develops. White plays Nc3 and d4, which leaves an isolated d-pawn but open lines. Black kicks the c4 bishop with ...c6 and ...b5 and develops the queenside. White's queen on b3 also becomes a target for ...Be6 or a knight jump to a5 or c5. The extra pawn plus White's slow development leaves Black clearly better.

Where the engine's main line heads: White has an isolated queen pawn. White has an isolated d-pawn: no white pawns on the c- or e-file to support it.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −1.09: a clear edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −1.09 4...dxe4 5.Bc4 Qe7 6.Nc3 c6 7.d4
  2. −0.52 4...Qe7 5.Nc3 dxe4 6.d3 exd3+ 7.Be3
  3. −0.37 4...Nf6 5.e5 Ne4 6.d4 c5 7.Bb5+

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

282 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.4%.

1200–159944.3%
1600–199955.6%
2000 and up52.2%

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

How to play against it

As Black, take on e4 with 4...dxe4 and defend f7 with ...Qe7 after Bc4. Follow with ...c6 and ...b5 to chase the bishop, then develop and castle. Do not let your queen get trapped going after more pawns, and castle before opening the center.

Questions

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

The French Defense: Orthoschnapp Gambit starts 1.e4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Qb3. Its ECO code is C00.

Is the French Defense: Orthoschnapp Gambit good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −1.09 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for Black. In 282 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.4%. A dubious gambit for White that Black punishes by taking on e4 and defending f7; only for surprise value.

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

White attacks d5 and b7 with Qb3 and offers e4 for play against f7. Black takes the pawn, covers f7 with ...Qe7 and uses ...c6 and ...b5 to push the bishop away.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is dxe4, with Qe7 and Nf6 close behind. 4...dxe4 wins a pawn and leaves White needing several tempi to win it back.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.