ECO C14 · French Defense

French Defense: Classical Variation, Alapin Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Nb5

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

7… Nb6+0.32

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Classical Variation, Alapin Variation (C14), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Nb5, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Nb6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.32).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.327… Nb6 8. Qg4 O-O 9. Bd3 a6 10. Nf3 h6 11. Nc3 c5 12. dxc5
  2. +0.407… Qd8 8. c3 a6 9. Na3 c5 10. f4 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qb6 12. Qd2
  3. +0.457… Nf8 8. Qg4 Ng6 9. Bd3 a6 10. Nc3 Qh4 11. Qxh4 Nxh4 12. g3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Classical Variation, Alapin Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Nb5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Nb6 for Black, continuing 8. Qg4 O-O 9. Bd3 a6 10. Nf3 h6 11. Nc3 c5 12. dxc5. White is slightly better (+0.32). The next best moves are 7… Qd8 (+0.40) and 7… Nf8 (+0.45).
Is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Alapin 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, Alapin Variation?
C14. 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+).