ECO C11 · French Defense

French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Morozevich Line

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 gxf6

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

7. Nf3+0.37

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Morozevich Line (C11), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 gxf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Nf3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.37).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.377. Nf3 Bd7 8. Nc3 Bc6 9. Bc4 Bb4 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 Qd6
  2. +0.277. Nc3 Nd7 8. Nf3 Nb6 9. g3 Bd7 10. Bg2 Bc6 11. O-O Qd7
  3. +0.177. Qd2 b6 8. Nc3 Bb7 9. O-O-O c6 10. f4 f5 11. Nf3 Nd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Morozevich Line?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 gxf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Nf3 for White, continuing Bd7 8. Nc3 Bc6 9. Bc4 Bb4 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 Qd6. White is slightly better (+0.37). The next best moves are 7. Nc3 (+0.27) and 7. Qd2 (+0.17).
Is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Morozevich Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.37: 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, Morozevich 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+).