ECO C08 · French Defense

French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System, Advance Line

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 c4

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

6. b3+0.45

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System, Advance Line (C08), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 c4, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. b3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.45).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.456. b3 cxb3 7. Bb5+ Bd7 8. Qe2+ Be7 9. axb3 Nf6 10. Ba3 Bxb5
  2. +0.286. c3 Nc6 7. b3 cxb3 8. axb3 Bd6 9. Bb5 Qe7+ 10. Qe2 Qxe2+
  3. +0.146. Be2 Nf6 7. O-O Bd6 8. b3 c3 9. Bb5+ Nc6 10. Re1+ Be6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System, Advance Line?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 c4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. b3 for White, continuing cxb3 7. Bb5+ Bd7 8. Qe2+ Be7 9. axb3 Nf6 10. Ba3 Bxb5. White is slightly better (+0.45). The next best moves are 6. c3 (+0.28) and 6. Be2 (+0.14).
Is the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System, Advance Line 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, Open System, Advance Line?
C08. 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+).