ECO C07 · French Defense

French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Chistyakov Defense, Modern Line

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 a6

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

11. Re1+0.30

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Chistyakov Defense, Modern Line (C07), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 a6, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. Re1 for White. White is slightly better (+0.30).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.3011. Re1 Qc7 12. Bf1 Be7 13. Qf3 O-O 14. Bf4 Bd6 15. Bxd6 Qxd6
  2. +0.2611. Bb3 Qc7 12. Re1 Bd7 13. Qf3 Bd6 14. h3 O-O-O 15. Be3 Rhe8
  3. +0.1611. h3 Qc7 12. Qe2 b5 13. Bd3 Bb7 14. c3 Bc5 15. Bg5 Bxd4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Chistyakov Defense, Modern Line?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 a6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. Re1 for White, continuing Qc7 12. Bf1 Be7 13. Qf3 O-O 14. Bf4 Bd6 15. Bxd6 Qxd6. White is slightly better (+0.30). The next best moves are 11. Bb3 (+0.26) and 11. h3 (+0.16).
Is the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Chistyakov Defense, Modern Line 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: Tarrasch Variation, Chistyakov Defense, Modern Line?
C07. 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+).