1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cd4 8. Nd4 Bc5 9. Qd2
FreeRepublic wrote on 02/24/26 at 16:03:57:

This is well represented at ChessPublishing. 9...0-0 has 20 games. 9...a6 has 8 games. Trading on d4 has 8 games.

7. Be3 cd4 8. Nd4 Bc5 put the bishop on an active square. For good or bad, it can lead to trades and simplification of the position.

Black certainly has many options, as suggested by the title of this thread. Different lines have been advocated for black. Anyway, it sometimes helps me to make comparisons across lines. The following two lines lead to the same position but for the location of the white queen. In the first line, the queen is on d2. In the second line, the queen is on c2.

A) 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qd2 a6 9. Ne2 (not a major line) O-O 10. c3 f6


Black has a good position and equal chances. 

B) 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Ne2 (again not common) Be7 9. c3 O-O 10. Qc2!? f6


White can play 11h4 and perhaps Ng5 at some point. I think white keeps the edge.

7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qb6 is I think currently the best reputed option, the directness makes the engines really happy, I think Matthew Sadler talks the line somewhere... can't remember where

The idea is simply Bc5 overtaking d4. And of course using this move-order hits b2 at an opportune moment.
9.Ncb5 a6 10.Nf5 Bc5 11.Nbd6+ Kf8 12.Qh5 Nd8 13.Nxg7 Bxe3 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Qe8+ is a propetual
9.Na4 Qa5+ 10.Nc3 Qb6 just repeats

The 9.Be2 and 9.a3 are a bit less directly drawish, but with a few moves of book promise clean equality. 

The mainline 9.Qd2 is pretty forcing up to:
9...Qxb2 10.Rb1 Qa3 11.Bb5 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 a6 13.Bxd7 Bxd7 14.Rb3 Qe7 15.Rxb7
Where black has 15...Qh4+ and 15...Qd8 16.O-O Qc8 or 16...Rc8 I believe they all should be fine for black, I think I recall Sadler recommending Qc8... the positions do remain tricky, but nowhere near Winaver levels of mystical.

Myself, I would play 7...Be7. Neil McDonald's recent book provides good coverage.

I recommend that you play both 7...a6 and 7...Be7 because as far as I know, these are the two moves with the best theoretical reputation at present. In terms of model players, Morozevich is probably the best guide.

The best one ... because it is the best  
OK I know, it's lazy answer, but it's because question is inaccurate, and I am forced (as many readers) to guess, you mean: "in the "Boleslavsky line with f4 and Be3 for White".  No ?
White can play 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nce2!?, system played by Anand (can lead to French Tarrasch ) and not sure some  moves you proposed in title are useful.
You must replace 7...dxc with 7..cxd.
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All moves you gave are played in the Boleslavsky line and each one has specific purpose. One main plan for White is long castle (after Qd2) and an attack over the kingside castle, hence usually Black delays cxd4 till White engineers long castle, because closing with c5-c4 and starting attack with Bb4+Qa5 can lead to sharp attack for opposite castles. Another plan is early cxd4 to play Bc5 fighting for the a7-g1 diagonal and the d4 strong point control. Another plan is Qb6 for double-attack b2+d4 leading usually to native main lines of Boleslavsky with Na4 + c3. White can also use Be2 plan with short castle and quieter play...quieter because a d4 square blockade is more difficult to get (Nc3-Ne2-Nd4 impossible) and light square bishop is not well placed to counter f6 or f5.
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I usually replay to such post by "nobody can judge at current position. Propose one variation" or "which one do you like ?"..because you will choose one, only because you exactly know what are pros andcons for each one.

Hello,

I'm going to add the french Stenitzl to my openings. Which 7. move would you recommend and why?

thank you!

Rainer