C00
French Defense
1. e4 e6
In the French Defense, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.
The French Defense is rock-solid. Black accepts a slightly cramped position and a passive light-squared bishop in exchange for a durable pawn structure and clear strategic plans.
It rewards understanding of pawn chains: who attacks the base, who breaks where. If you like maneuvering battles over tactical chaos, the French is a reliable lifelong weapon.
Key plans
- Black’s thematic breaks are ...c5 (against the base) and sometimes ...f6.
- Free the “French bishop” on c8 — it is your main problem piece.
- The Advance, Exchange, Tarrasch and Winawer are the main systems.
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Analyze my games free →Variations of the French Defense
- Horwitz Attack, Papa-Ticulat Gambit1. e4 e6 2. b3 d5 3. Bb2
- King's Indian Attack1. e4 e6 2. d3
- King's Indian Attack, Franco-Hiva Gambit1. e4 e6 2. d3 f5
- Knight Variation1. e4 e6 2. Nf3
- Knight Variation, Franco-Hiva Gambit1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 f5
- La Bourdonnais Variation1. e4 e6 2. f4
- La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit1. e4 e6 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4
- Mediterranean Defense1. e4 e6 2. d4 Nf6
- Morphy Gambit1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nh3
- Normal Variation1. e4 e6 2. d4
- Orthoschnapp Gambit1. e4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Qb3
- Pelikan Variation1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. f4
- Perseus Gambit1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3
- Queen's Knight1. e4 e6 2. Nc3
- Reversed Philidor Formation1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. Be2
- Reti-Spielmann Attack1. e4 e6 2. g3
- Schlechter Variation1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Bd3
- St. George Defense1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6
- St. George Defense, Sanky-George Gambit1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. c4 b5
- St. George Defense, St. George Gambit1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. c4 b5 4. cxb5 axb5
- St. George Defense, Three Pawn Attack1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. c4
- St. George Defense, Traditional Line1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. Nf3 b5 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Bb7 6. O-O Nf6
- Steiner Variation1. e4 e6 2. c4
- Steinitz Attack1. e4 e6 2. e5
- Two Knights Variation1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3
- Wing Gambit1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e5 c5 4. b4
- Exchange1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5
- Exchange Variation1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3
- Exchange Variation, Bogoljubow Variation1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 Nc6
- Exchange Variation, Monte Carlo Variation1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. c4
- Exchange Variation, Svenonius Variation1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bg5
- Advance1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5
- Advance Variation, Euwe Variation1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7
- Advance Variation, Extended Bishop Swap1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bd7
- Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. b4
- Advance Variation, Kupreichik Variation1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Be3
- Advance Variation, Lputian Variation1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 Nh6
- Advance Variation, Main Line1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3
- Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3
- Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit, Hector Variation1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. O-O Bd7 8. Re1
Related openings
French Defense: Horwitz Attack, Papa-Ticulat GambitFrench Defense: King's Indian AttackFrench Defense: King's Indian Attack, Franco-Hiva GambitFrench Defense: Knight VariationFrench Defense: Knight Variation, Franco-Hiva GambitFrench Defense: La Bourdonnais VariationFrench Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter GambitFrench Defense: Mediterranean DefenseFrench Defense: Morphy GambitFrench Defense: Normal Variation