ECO C11 · French Defense

French Defense: Classical Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6

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

4. Bg5+0.32

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Classical Variation (C11), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Bg5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.32).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.324. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. h4 Nd7
  2. +0.324. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Qb6 8. Na4 Qa5+
  3. +0.124. exd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Bd6 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. h3 Re8

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5
  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7
  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bg5
  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Classical Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Bg5 for White, continuing dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. h4 Nd7. White is slightly better (+0.32). The next best moves are 4. e5 (+0.32) and 4. exd5 (+0.12).
Is the French Defense: Classical Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.32: 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: Classical Variation?
C11. 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+).