ECO C10 · French Defense

French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Capablanca Line

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Ne5

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

7… Nd7+0.35

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Capablanca Line (C10), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Ne5, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Nd7 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.35).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.357… Nd7 8. Nc4 Nb6 9. c3 Nxc4 10. Bxc4 Bd7 11. O-O Qf6 12. Re1
  2. +0.367… Bd6 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 O-O 10. Bd3 c5 11. O-O cxd4 12. f4
  3. +0.437… a6 8. c3 Bd6 9. Bd3 c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. cxd4 O-O 12. Re1

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Capablanca Line?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Ne5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Nd7 for Black, continuing 8. Nc4 Nb6 9. c3 Nxc4 10. Bxc4 Bd7 11. O-O Qf6 12. Re1. White is slightly better (+0.35). The next best moves are 7… Bd6 (+0.36) and 7… a6 (+0.43).
Is the French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Capablanca Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.35: 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, Capablanca Line?
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+).