ECO C01 · French Defense

French Defense: Exchange Variation, Monte Carlo Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. c4

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

4… Bb4+−0.11

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Exchange Variation, Monte Carlo Variation (C01), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. c4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Bb4+ for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.11).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.114… Bb4+ 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Be2 dxc4 8. Bxc4 Nc6 9. O-O
  2. −0.104… Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. Ne2 O-O 9. O-O
  3. −0.074… Nc6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. cxd5 Qxd5 7. Nf3 Bg4 8. Be2 Bxf3 9. Bxf3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Exchange Variation, Monte Carlo Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. c4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Bb4+ for Black, continuing 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Be2 dxc4 8. Bxc4 Nc6 9. O-O. The position is roughly equal (−0.11). The next best moves are 4… Nf6 (−0.10) and 4… Nc6 (−0.07).
Is the French Defense: Exchange Variation, Monte Carlo Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.11: the position is roughly equal. 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: Exchange Variation, Monte Carlo Variation?
C01. 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+).