ECO C11 · French Defense

French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3

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

7… Qb6+0.30

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation (C11), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Qb6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.30).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.307… Qb6 8. Na4 Qa5+ 9. c3 b6 10. a3 c4 11. f5 exf5 12. b4
  2. +0.387… a6 8. Qd2 Be7 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. h4 Qa5 11. h5 b5 12. h6
  3. +0.397… Be7 8. Qd2 a6 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. h4 Qa5 11. a3 b5 12. Nd4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Qb6 for Black, continuing 8. Na4 Qa5+ 9. c3 b6 10. a3 c4 11. f5 exf5 12. b4. White is slightly better (+0.30). The next best moves are 7… a6 (+0.38) and 7… Be7 (+0.39).
Is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.30: 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: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation?
C11. 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+).