French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation, Main Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4
8… f6+0.39
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation, Main Line (C06), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… f6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.39).
Top engine moves
- +0.398… f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. Nf3 Bd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Bg5 Qb6 13. Re1
- +0.638… Qb6 9. Nf3 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 f6 11. exf6 Nxf6 12. O-O O-O 13. Re1
- +0.938… Be7 9. O-O a5 10. Re1 b6 11. Nf3 Ba6 12. Bb1 Bb4 13. Nc3
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation, Main Line?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… f6 for Black, continuing 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. Nf3 Bd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Bg5 Qb6 13. Re1. White is slightly better (+0.39). The next best moves are 8… Qb6 (+0.63) and 8… Be7 (+0.93).
Is the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.39: 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, Closed Variation, Main Line?
C06. 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+).