ECO C11 · French Defense

French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Brodsky-Jones Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. dxc5 Nc6 7. a3 Bxc5 8. Qg4 O-O 9. Nf3 f6

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

10. Qxe6++0.60

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Brodsky-Jones Variation (C11), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. dxc5 Nc6 7. a3 Bxc5 8. Qg4 O-O 9. Nf3 f6, Stockfish 18 recommends 10. Qxe6+ for White. White is slightly better (+0.60).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.6010. Qxe6+ Kh8 11. Qxd5 Qb6 12. Qd2 fxe5 13. b4 Bd4 14. Nd5 Qd8
  2. −0.0210. b4 Bb6 11. Qxe6+ Kh8 12. Qd6 fxe5 13. Nxd5 Re8 14. Bb2 exf4+
  3. −0.1710. Bd3 Qe7 11. Qh4 h6 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Kd1 b5 14. Re1 b4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Brodsky-Jones Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. dxc5 Nc6 7. a3 Bxc5 8. Qg4 O-O 9. Nf3 f6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10. Qxe6+ for White, continuing Kh8 11. Qxd5 Qb6 12. Qd2 fxe5 13. b4 Bd4 14. Nd5 Qd8. White is slightly better (+0.60). The next best moves are 10. b4 (−0.02) and 10. Bd3 (−0.17).
Is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Brodsky-Jones Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.60: 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, Brodsky-Jones 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+).