ECO C13 · French Defense

French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4

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

6… Bxg5+0.50

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack (C13), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… Bxg5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.50).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.506… Bxg5 7. hxg5 Qxg5 8. Nh3 Qe7 9. Qg4 g6 10. Ng5 h5 11. Qf4
  2. +0.546… h6 7. Bxe7 Qxe7 8. f4 a6 9. Qd2 c5 10. Nf3 Nc6 11. g4
  3. +0.596… Nc6 7. Nf3 f6 8. exf6 Nxf6 9. Bd3 O-O 10. Qe2 Nb4 11. O-O-O

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… Bxg5 for Black, continuing 7. hxg5 Qxg5 8. Nh3 Qe7 9. Qg4 g6 10. Ng5 h5 11. Qf4. White is slightly better (+0.50). The next best moves are 6… h6 (+0.54) and 6… Nc6 (+0.59).
Is the French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.50: 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: Alekhine-Chatard Attack?
C13. 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+).