Chess Openings Lab
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French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation

The Hecht-Reefschläger is 3...Nc6, developing the queen's knight in front of the c-pawn after 3.Nc3. Black blocks the usual ...c5 break and plans ...f6 or ...Nf6 instead, while White gains space with e5 and fights for the e5 point.

Moves
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nc6
ECO
C10
Engine
+0.67 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
742 games in our lichess sample
White scores
51.7%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Push 4.e5 to cramp Black. After ...f6 and Nf3, White meets the exchange on e5 with dxe5 and keeps space.
  • Take on h6 with the dark bishop if Black's knight goes there, ruining Black's kingside pawns.
  • 4.Nf3 keeps flexibility; after ...Nf6 and e5, the Ne2-f4 maneuver puts pressure on e6.
  • Be3 protects d4 and answers the capture on e4 with a recapture on e4.

Black

  • Against 4.e5 play ...f6 at once to hit the head of White's chain.
  • Develop the g8 knight to h6 or e7, aiming for f5 to pressure d4.
  • Recapture on f6 or e5 with pieces when possible; open lines help Black's development.
  • Without ...c5, use ...Bd7 and long castling for a different plan from most French lines.

Plans and pawn structure

Because the knight sits on c6, Black has blocked the standard French break ...c5. White's plan is to grab space with e5, support it with Nf3, and use Bf4 or Be3 to hold the center. Black's counterplay comes from ...f6, the knight on f5 and the half-open f-file. If Black castles long after ...Bd7 and ...Qe7, both sides play on opposite wings.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.67: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.67 4.e5 f6 5.Nf3 fxe5 6.dxe5 Nh6
  2. +0.49 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 Ne4 6.Ne2 f6
  3. +0.33 4.Be3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nf6 6.Nxf6+ Qxf6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

742 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.7%.

under 120049.2%
1200–159952.1%
1600–199951.4%
2000 and up55.0%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As White, play 4.e5 and meet ...f6 with Nf3. After the trade on e5 and dxe5, take on h6 with the bishop if Black's knight lands there: Black's kingside pawns are wrecked. Avoid lines that trade the e4 pawn too early and let Black's pieces breathe.

Questions

What are the moves of the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation?

The French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation starts 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nc6. Its ECO code is C10.

Is the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.67 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 742 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.7%. A rare, offbeat choice for Black players who want to avoid main French theory, but White gains easy space and Black needs precise play.

What is the main idea of the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation?

Black develops with 3...Nc6 and gives up the ...c5 break for ...f6 and knight play toward f5. White grabs space with 4.e5 and aims to keep it.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is e5, with Nf3 and Be3 close behind. 4.e5 gains space and kicks the game into a structure where Black's c6 knight cannot support ...c5.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.