French Defense

The French Defense begins with 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5, creating a solid but cramped structure for Black. The characteristic plan involves ...c5 to challenge White's center, and the resulting positions feature a battle over central space — Black's light-squared bishop is often a key strategic concern.

  • Variations: 29
  • Total lines: 60
  • Winrate: 50.5%

Main lines

  • French Defense: Advance Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Be2 Nge7 7.O-O cxd4
  • Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Normal Line: 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Be7 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 O-O 6.e3 b6 7.Bd3 dxc4
  • Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Normal Line: 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Be7 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 O-O 6.e3 b6 7.cxd5 Nxd5
  • French Defense: Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bd3 Nh6 7.O-O Nf5
  • French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.d4 Bd7 6.Be3 Qb6
  • French Defense: Advance Variation, Main Line: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.a3 a5
  • French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.d4 Bd7 6.Bd3 Rc8
  • French Defense: Exchange Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Nf3 Bd6 6.Bd3 Ne7
  • French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.d4 Bd7 6.Bb5 Nxe5
  • French Defense: Advance Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.b3 cxd4
  • French Defense: Exchange Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.O-O Bg4
  • French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.d4 Bd7 6.Be2 Nge7
  • Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack, Fianchetto Defense: 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Be7 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 b6
  • Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation: 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Be7 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e3 O-O 6.Bd3 dxc4
  • Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation: 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Be7 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 c6
  • Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation: 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Be7 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Nf6 5.e3 O-O
  • French Defense: Exchange Variation, Monte Carlo Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4
  • French Defense: Exchange Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.c4 c6
  • Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation: 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Be7 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 Nf6
  • French Defense: Exchange Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Nc3 Ne7
  • French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch System: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6
  • French Defense: Advance Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Qb3 Qxb3
  • Horwitz Defense: 1.d4 e6 2.Bf4 c5 3.e3 Qb6 4.b3 Nf6
  • French Defense: Knight Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 exd5
  • Horwitz Defense: 1.d4 e6 2.Bf4 c5 3.c3 Qb6
  • Horwitz Defense: 1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 f5 3.Bf4 Nf6
  • Horwitz Defense: 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Be7 3.Nf3 d5
  • Horwitz Defense: 1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 f5 3.e3 Nf6
  • Horwitz Defense: 1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 f5 3.c4 Nf6