ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Schlechter Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Bd3

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

3… dxe4−0.09

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

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Schlechter Variation (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Bd3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… dxe4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.09).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.093… dxe4 4. Bxe4 Nf6 5. Bf3 c5 6. Ne2 Be7 7. Nbc3 O-O 8. Be3
  2. +0.083… c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Nf3 c4 6. Be2 Nf6 7. b3 cxb3 8. axb3
  3. +0.333… Nc6 4. Nf3 Nb4 5. Nc3 Nxd3+ 6. Qxd3 dxe4 7. Nxe4 b6 8. Ne5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Schlechter Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Bd3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… dxe4 for Black, continuing 4. Bxe4 Nf6 5. Bf3 c5 6. Ne2 Be7 7. Nbc3 O-O 8. Be3. The position is roughly equal (−0.09). The next best moves are 3… c5 (+0.08) and 3… Nc6 (+0.33).
Is the French Defense: Schlechter Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.09: 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: Schlechter Variation?
C00. 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+).