ECO C13 · French Defense

French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack, Maróczy Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4 a6

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

7. Qg4+0.88

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack, Maróczy Variation (C13), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4 a6, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Qg4 for White. White is clearly better (+0.88).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.887. Qg4 h5 8. Qg3 g6 9. Nf3 c5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. dxc5 Nxc5
  2. +0.447. Bxe7 Qxe7 8. f4 c5 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Nxd4 cxd4
  3. +0.387. f4 c5 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Nxd4 cxd4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack, Maróczy Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4 a6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Qg4 for White, continuing h5 8. Qg3 g6 9. Nf3 c5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. dxc5 Nxc5. White is clearly better (+0.88). The next best moves are 7. Bxe7 (+0.44) and 7. f4 (+0.38).
Is the French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack, Maróczy Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.88: white is clearly 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, Maróczy Variation?
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+).