Chess Openings Lab
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French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack

The Alekhine-Chatard Attack is 6.h4 in the Classical French, offering a pawn so that ...Bxg5 hxg5 Qxg5 opens the h-file for White's rook. White wants a fast kingside attack with f4, Qd2 or Qg4, while Black can decline with ...h6, ...a6 or ...c5.

Moves
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4
ECO
C13
Engine
+0.49 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
391 games in our lichess sample
White scores
50.1%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • If Black takes, 7.hxg5 Qxg5 8.Nh3 hits the queen, and after 8...Qe7 9.Qg4 White targets g7 with the rook already on h1.
  • Against 6...h6, trade with 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 and play 8.f4 to support e5 and build a broad center.
  • Qd2 and long castling fit the plan: the king goes to the queenside while the pawns storm the other wing.

Black

  • 6...h6 is the engine's choice: it declines the pawn and forces the bishop trade on e7.
  • Hit the center with ...c5 and ...Nc6 once the bishops are traded; d4 is White's weak point.
  • If you take with ...Bxg5, retreat with 8...Qe7 and play ...g6 to cover the kingside, expecting Ng5 pressure.
  • 6...c5 7.Bxe7 Kxe7 is also playable, but it leaves the king on e7.

Plans and pawn structure

This is a French chain where White adds kingside space with h4 and f4. White plans f4, Nf3, Qd2 and long castling, then a pawn storm with g4 and f5. Black answers with ...c5 and ...Nc6 against d4, plus ...a6 and ...b5 for a queenside attack. If Black accepted the pawn, the open h-file and Qg4 make the kingside dangerous, and Black must defend before counterattacking.

Where the engine's main line heads: French chain: d4–e5 against d5–e6. The French chain: White's pawns on d4 and e5 face Black's on d5 and e6. White has kingside space, Black attacks the base of the chain.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.49: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.49 6...h6 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 8.f4 a6 9.Qd2
  2. +0.53 6...Bxg5 7.hxg5 Qxg5 8.Nh3 Qe7 9.Qg4
  3. +0.74 6...c5 7.Bxe7 Kxe7 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.dxc5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

391 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.1%.

1600–199951.5%
2000 and up48.8%

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

Where it goes next

  • Alekhine-Chatard Attack, Breyer Variation6...c5 · rare
  • Alekhine-Chatard Attack, Maróczy Variation6...a6 · rare
  • Alekhine-Chatard Attack, Spielmann Variation6...O-O · rare
  • Alekhine-Chatard Attack, Teichmann Variation6...f6 · rare
  • Alekhine-Chatard Attack, Albin-Chatard Gambit6...Bxg5 · rare

How to play against it

Decline with 6...h6 or ...a6 unless you know the accepted lines well. After 6...h6 7.Bxe7 Qxe7, play ...a6, ...c5 and ...Nc6 against d4. If you take the pawn, keep the queen near the kingside and play ...g6 early, since Qg4 and Ng5 come fast.

Questions

What are the moves of the French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack?

The French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack starts 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4. Its ECO code is C13.

Is the French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.49 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 391 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.1%. An aggressive weapon for attacking White players; Black can decline safely but must know the accepted line to grab material.

What is the main idea of the French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack?

White offers a pawn with h4 so that ...Bxg5 hxg5 opens the h-file for the rook and an attack on g7 and h7. Black usually declines with ...h6 or ...a6, trades dark bishops and plays ...c5 against the center.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is h6, with Bxg5 and c5 close behind. 6...h6 declines the pawn, forces the bishop trade on e7 and keeps the h-file closed.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.