ECO C03 · French Defense

French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Morozevich Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Be7

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

4. Ngf3+0.45

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Morozevich Variation (C03), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Be7, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Ngf3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.45).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.454. Ngf3 c5 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6. Bd3 Ne7 7. O-O O-O 8. c3 Ng6
  2. +0.374. e5 c5 5. Qg4 Kf8 6. dxc5 h5 7. Qf4 g5 8. Qe3 Nh6
  3. +0.304. Bd3 c5 5. dxc5 Nf6 6. Ngf3 dxe4 7. Nxe4 Nxe4 8. Bxe4 Qxd1+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Morozevich Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Be7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Ngf3 for White, continuing c5 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6. Bd3 Ne7 7. O-O O-O 8. c3 Ng6. White is slightly better (+0.45). The next best moves are 4. e5 (+0.37) and 4. Bd3 (+0.30).
Is the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Morozevich Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.45: 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, Morozevich Variation?
C03. 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+).