French Defense
The French Defense (ECO C00–C19) is a chess opening that begins 1. e4 e6.
♜
♞
♝
♛
♚
♝
♞
♜
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♜
♞
♝
♛
♚
♝
♞
♜
The main line
The French Defense is reached by 1. e4 e6 (ECO C00). It's one of 211 named lines under this opening in the book.
Named variations (44)
The most common 30 of 44 named variations:
- Winawer Variation —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4(C15) - Classical Variation —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6(C11) - Tarrasch Variation —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2(C03) - Advance Variation —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5(C02) - McCutcheon Variation —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4(C12) - Steinitz Variation —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Qg4(C11) - Rubinstein Variation —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4(C10) - Exchange Variation —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5(C01) - Alekhine-Chatard Attack —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4(C13) - St. George Defense —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6(C00) - Banzai-Leong Gambit —
1. e4 e6 2. b4(C00) - Horwitz Attack —
1. e4 e6 2. b3(C00) - King's Indian Attack —
1. e4 e6 2. d3(C00) - La Bourdonnais Variation —
1. e4 e6 2. f4(C00) - Knight Variation —
1. e4 e6 2. Nf3(C00) - Normal Variation —
1. e4 e6 2. d4(C00) - Réti-Spielmann Attack —
1. e4 e6 2. g3(C00) - Steiner Variation —
1. e4 e6 2. c4(C00) - Steinitz Attack —
1. e4 e6 2. e5(C00) - Bird Invitation —
1. e4 e6 2. Bb5(C00) - Chigorin Variation —
1. e4 e6 2. Qe2(C00) - Queen's Knight —
1. e4 e6 2. Nc3(C00) - Baeuerle Gambit —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 b5(C00) - Franco-Hiva Gambit —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 f5(C00) - Franco-Sicilian Defense —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5(C00) - Mediterranean Defense —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 Nf6(C00) - Diemer-Duhm Gambit —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. c4(C00) - Alapin Gambit —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Be3(C00) - Morphy Gambit —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nh3(C00) - Pelikan Variation —
1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. f4(C00)
Analyze the French Defense
Play through this opening on the free analysis board, or review one of your own gamesto see how accurately you handled it — every move classified, with the engine's best line on each mistake.
← Back to all chess openings. New to opening study? See move classifications and the glossary.