ECO C11 · French Defense

French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O

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

8. Bc4+0.36

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line (C11), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. Bc4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.36).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.368. Bc4 Be7 9. Qe2 Nd7 10. O-O-O c5 11. Kb1 cxd4 12. Rxd4 Qc7
  2. +0.298. Qd3 Nd7 9. O-O-O b6 10. Qe3 Bb7 11. Ne5 Bh4 12. Bb5 Nf6
  3. +0.218. Qd2 Be7 9. O-O-O Nd7 10. h4 b6 11. Neg5 Bb7 12. Kb1 c5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. Bc4 for White, continuing Be7 9. Qe2 Nd7 10. O-O-O c5 11. Kb1 cxd4 12. Rxd4 Qc7. White is slightly better (+0.36). The next best moves are 8. Qd3 (+0.29) and 8. Qd2 (+0.21).
Is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.36: 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, Burn Variation, Main Line?
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+).