Chessy
French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation for Black
After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nc6, White to move, the position is already sharp enough to matter. The engine’s verdict is not comforting for Black, so your job is not to pretend this is equal — it is to understand the most testing reply and steer the game into something you can handle. Use the drill below to practise the critical decision, recognise White’s most common tries, and learn where Black is already under pressure.
Play the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation against the engine
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Create a free account →What the engine thinks of this position
Stockfish rates this +0.82, a clear advantage for White. That means you are worse and need accurate play right away, not a casual setup. The database also backs that up: across 436,072 games at this exact position, White wins 52.0%, draws 3.7%, and Black wins 44.3%. In other words, White scores better here, so your best practical approach is to know the main answer and meet White’s plans with confidence.
The move to know first
The engine’s best move here is e5. The listed continuation is e5 f6 Nf3 fxe5, so the key idea is to challenge White immediately and be ready for the tension that follows. In this kind of French position, you cannot waste time: Black needs active play and clear piece coordination, because White already has the better starting evaluation.
Which White tries you are most likely to face
The most-played continuations are e5 (109,606 games, White scores 53.9%), exd5 (100,927 games, White scores 50.2%), Nf3 (92,160 games, White scores 53.1%), Bb5 (63,465 games, White scores 51.5%), Be3 (21,092 games, White scores 52.5%), and Bf4 (13,011 games, White scores 51.3%). That tells you this is not a one-line opening: White can choose several serious moves, so your drill should focus on understanding the position rather than memorising a single trick.
One mistake to watch for
There is one known mistake in this position: Bf4 is an inaccuracy, and it loses about 0.6 pawns; Nf3 was better. If White makes that choice, you can be alert for the extra tempo it gives you in development and central play. Even so, do not rely on the error — you still need to know the main engine move and play the position honestly.
Results across 436,072 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e5 | 109,606 | 53.9% |
| exd5 | 100,927 | 50.2% |
| Nf3 | 92,160 | 53.1% |
| Bb5 | 63,465 | 51.5% |
| Be3 | 21,092 | 52.5% |
| Bf4 | 13,011 | 51.3% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation good for Black?
The position after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nc6 is not pleasant for Black according to the engine. Stockfish gives +0.82, which is a clear advantage for White, so you should treat this as a line where accuracy matters.
What is the best move for Black in this position?
The engine’s best move is **e5**. The given continuation is **e5 f6 Nf3 fxe5**, so that is the main idea to study in the drill.
Which White move is most common here?
The most-played continuation is **e5**, with 109,606 games. It also scores well for White, so you should be ready for that plan first.
What should I learn from the database numbers?
White scores better overall at this exact position, with 52.0% wins compared with 44.3% for Black, and draws are only 3.7%. That makes this a useful drill for learning how to survive an unfriendly opening position with Black.
How many games feature the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation?
Over 436K Lichess games have reached the French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation position. White wins 52.0%, Black wins 44.3%, with 3.7% draws — based on real rated games.