ECO C10 · French Defense

French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nc6

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

4. e5+0.66

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation (C10), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. e5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.66).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.664. e5 f6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Bf4 fxe5 7. Nxe5 Nxe5 8. Bxe5 Nf6
  2. +0.504. Bb5 a6 5. Bxc6+ bxc6 6. Nf3 Ne7 7. h4 h5 8. O-O Ng6
  3. +0.494. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Ne4 6. Ne2 f6 7. Ng3 fxe5 8. dxe5 Be7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. e5 for White, continuing f6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Bf4 fxe5 7. Nxe5 Nxe5 8. Bxe5 Nf6. White is slightly better (+0.66). The next best moves are 4. Bb5 (+0.50) and 4. Nf3 (+0.49).
Is the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.66: 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: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation?
C10. 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+).