ECO C02 · French Defense

French Defense: Advance Variation, Main Line

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3

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

6… c4+0.39

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Advance Variation, Main Line (C02), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… c4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.39).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.396… c4 7. Nbd2 Na5 8. Rb1 Bd7 9. h4 Nh6 10. Be2 O-O-O 11. Nf1
  2. +0.406… Nge7 7. Bd3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bd7 9. Bc2 g5 10. h3 Nf5 11. Bxf5
  3. +0.416… Bd7 7. b4 cxd4 8. cxd4 Rc8 9. Bb2 Nge7 10. Nc3 Na5 11. Na4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Advance Variation, Main Line?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… c4 for Black, continuing 7. Nbd2 Na5 8. Rb1 Bd7 9. h4 Nh6 10. Be2 O-O-O 11. Nf1. White is slightly better (+0.39). The next best moves are 6… Nge7 (+0.40) and 6… Bd7 (+0.41).
Is the French Defense: Advance Variation, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.39: 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 French Defense: Advance Variation, Main Line?
C02. 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+).