French Defense: Classical Variation, Rubinstein Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Qd2
7… a6+0.39
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the French Defense: Classical Variation, Rubinstein Variation (C14), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Qd2, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… a6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.39).
Top engine moves
- +0.397… a6 8. f4 c5 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. h4 b5 11. Ne2 f6 12. h5
- +0.447… O-O 8. f4 c5 9. Nf3 f6 10. exf6 Nxf6 11. dxc5 Nbd7 12. O-O-O
- +0.467… f6 8. f4 O-O 9. Nf3 c5 10. exf6 Nxf6 11. dxc5 Nbd7 12. O-O-O
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the French Defense: Classical Variation, Rubinstein Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Qd2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… a6 for Black, continuing 8. f4 c5 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. h4 b5 11. Ne2 f6 12. h5. White is slightly better (+0.39). The next best moves are 7… O-O (+0.44) and 7… f6 (+0.46).
Is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Rubinstein Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.39: 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, Rubinstein 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+).