ECO C10 · French Defense

French Defense: Rubinstein Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4

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

4. Nxe4+0.50

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation (C10), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nxe4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.50).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.504. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. c3 Be7 8. Bd3 b6
  2. −0.554. Nge2 f5 5. Nf4 Nf6 6. Bc4 Nc6 7. d5 Na5 8. Be2 e5
  3. −0.624. a3 Nf6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. Nge2 Nbd7 7. Ng3 h6 8. Bxf6 Nxf6

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nxe4 for White, continuing Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. c3 Be7 8. Bd3 b6. White is slightly better (+0.50). The next best moves are 4. Nge2 (−0.55) and 4. a3 (−0.62).
Is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.50: 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: Rubinstein 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+).