Opening Overview
French Defense
211 linesAbout This Opening
Black challenges the center with a compact pawn chain and counterpunching chances.
These structures usually reward accurate development, good piece coordination, and patience before committing to pawn breaks.
The practical edge often comes from knowing the main pawn structures and where each side wants counterplay, rather than memorizing long forcing lines.
Key ideas
- Typical theme: sound structure and flexible plans.
- Most plans revolve around piece activity and pawn breaks at the right moment.
- Best for players who want reliable positions and clear structure.
- Learn the standard middlegame plans, not just the first moves.
Choose a variation
French Defense: Classical Variation, Delayed Exchange Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. exd5
French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Nce2
French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5
French Defense: Classical Variation, Swiss Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bd3
French Defense: Henneberger Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Be3
French Defense: Steinitz Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7
French Defense: Steinitz Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. a3
French Defense: Steinitz Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Ne2
French Defense: Steinitz Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3
French Defense: Steinitz Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. dxc5 Nc6
French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3
French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Bradford Attack Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. Qg4