French Defense: Complete Guide
Solid and resilient — Black builds a pawn fortress then counterattacks in the center. Drill every main line against an adaptive engine, backed by real Lichess win rates and Stockfish evaluations.
Play the main line: French Defense
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Practice every variation in this family with AI coaching after every game.
Create a free account →All 177 variations of the French Defense
Openings & Plans
French Defense
ECO C00
151M games
Anti-Openings
French Defense
ECO C00
151M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Normal Variation
ECO C00
72M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Knight Variation
ECO C00
50M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: d4
ECO C00
44M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Nf3
ECO C00
27M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Advance Variation
ECO C02
25M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Normal Variation: d5
ECO C00
25M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Steinitz Attack: d5
ECO C00
25M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Exchange Variation
ECO C01
13M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Advance Variation: c5
ECO C02
11M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense: Nf3
ECO C00
8M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Queen's Knight
ECO C00
8M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Paulsen Variation
ECO C10
8M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Queen's Knight: d5
ECO C00
8M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense
ECO C00
7M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Knight Variation: d5
ECO C00
7M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation
ECO C00
6M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Steinitz Attack
ECO C00
5M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Exchange Variation: exd5
ECO C01
5M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Knight Variation: d6
ECO C00
4M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Normal Variation: d6
ECO C00
4M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Bc4
ECO C00
4M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Nc3
ECO C00
4M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Knight Variation: c5
ECO C00
4M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Queen's Knight: c5
ECO C00
4M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: King's Indian Attack
ECO C00
4M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: f4
ECO C00
3M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Knight Variation: c6
ECO C00
3M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Classical Variation: exd5
ECO C11
3M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Knight Variation: b6
ECO C00
3M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Classical Variation
ECO C11
2M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Mediterranean Defense: Nc3
ECO C00
2M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Normal Variation: c5
ECO C00
2M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation: c5
ECO C00
2M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Two Knights Variation
ECO C00
2M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Paulsen Variation: dxe4
ECO C10
2M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation: dxe4
ECO C03
2M games
Openings & Plans
French: Tarrasch Variation: dxe4
ECO C03
2M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Steiner Variation
ECO C00
2M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Rubinstein Variation
ECO C10
2M games
Openings & Plans
French: Rubinstein Variation
ECO C10
2M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Mediterranean Defense
ECO C00
1M games
Gambits
French Defense: Marshall Gambit
ECO C10
1M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation
ECO C03
1M games
Openings & Plans
French: Tarrasch Variation
ECO C03
1M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Winawer Variation
ECO C15
1M games
Anti-Openings
French Defense: d3
ECO C00
1M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Steiner Variation: c6
ECO C00
1M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Classical Variation: e5
ECO C11
1M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Steiner Variation: d6
ECO C00
1M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Queen's Knight: d6
ECO C00
1M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Mediterranean Defense: e5
ECO C00
1M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: St. George Defense
ECO C00
1M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense: dxc5
ECO C00
1M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Queen's Knight: b6
ECO C00
1M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense: d5
ECO C00
1M games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Steiner Variation: b6
ECO C00
997K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Normal Variation: c6
ECO C00
987K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Queen's Knight: c6
ECO C00
987K games
Anti-Openings
French Defense: c4
ECO C00
974K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Normal Variation: Nf6
ECO C00
953K games
Gambits
French Defense: Perseus Gambit
ECO C00
927K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Paulsen Variation: Nf6
ECO C10
849K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: King's Indian Attack: d5
ECO C00
849K games
Anti-Openings
French Defense: Qf3
ECO C00
801K games
Gambits
French Defense: Marshall Gambit: exd5
ECO C10
800K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: e5
ECO C00
790K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Steinitz Attack: c5
ECO C00
784K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Horwitz Attack
ECO C00
774K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Steinitz Attack: c6
ECO C00
752K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Two Knights Variation: c6
ECO C00
749K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Steiner Variation: d5
ECO C00
694K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Two Knights Variation: c5
ECO C00
646K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System
ECO C07
646K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Two Knights Variation: dxe4
ECO C00
624K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Advance Variation: Nc6
ECO C02
619K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense: c3
ECO C00
609K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Schlechter Variation
ECO C00
582K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Paulsen Variation: c5
ECO C10
562K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Réti-Spielmann Attack
ECO C00
561K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Réti-Spielmann Attack
ECO C00
561K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Knight Variation: Nf6
ECO C00
541K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Winawer Variation: exd5
ECO C15
523K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Steinitz Attack: b6
ECO C00
490K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation
ECO C05
489K games
Anti-Openings
French Defense: b3
ECO C00
440K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation
ECO C10
436K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation
ECO C10
436K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Advance Variation: a6
ECO C02
430K games
Anti-Openings
French Defense: c3
ECO C00
422K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation: Nf6
ECO C03
408K games
Openings & Plans
French: Tarrasch Variation: Nf6
ECO C03
408K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation: c6
ECO C00
400K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Two Knights Variation: d4
ECO C00
351K games
Gambits
French Defense: Diemer-Duhm Gambit
ECO C00
327K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Steinitz Attack: d6
ECO C00
320K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Bird Invitation
ECO C00
313K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Winawer Variation: e5
ECO C15
286K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation: b6
ECO C00
282K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Normal Variation: b6
ECO C00
269K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Two Knights Variation: Nf6
ECO C00
267K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: St. George Defense, Three Pawn Attack
ECO C00
261K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Mediterranean Defense: Bg5
ECO C00
260K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Rubinstein Variation: Nxe4
ECO C10
258K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Chigorin Variation
ECO C00
255K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Pelikan Variation
ECO C00
254K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Advance Variation, Extended Bishop Swap
ECO C02
248K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Classical Variation: Bg5
ECO C11
245K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Advance Variation: Bb4+
ECO C02
245K games
Gambits
French Defense: Marshall Gambit: Nf3
ECO C10
227K games
Openings & Plans
French: Rubinstein Variation: f3
ECO C10
220K games
Gambits
French Defense: Franco-Hiva Gambit
ECO C00
215K games
Gambits
French Defense: Horwitz Attack, Papa-Ticulat Gambit
ECO C00
214K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Steinitz Attack: Nc6
ECO C00
208K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Paulsen Variation: Nc6
ECO C10
207K games
Gambits
French Defense: Diemer-Duhm Gambit Accepted
ECO C00
185K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Exchange Variation: Qxd5
ECO C01
180K games
Gambits
French Defense: Marshall Gambit: e5
ECO C10
175K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense: e5
ECO C00
171K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation: c5
ECO C03
164K games
Openings & Plans
French: Tarrasch Variation: c5
ECO C03
164K games
Gambits
French Defense: Knight Variation, Franco-Hiva Gambit
ECO C00
155K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation: d5
ECO C00
154K games
Gambits
French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit
ECO C00
151K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Exchange Variation: Nf6
ECO C01
147K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: St. George Defense: Nc3
ECO C00
133K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Queen's Knight: Nf6
ECO C00
131K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Paulsen Variation: c6
ECO C10
126K games
Openings & Plans
French: Rubinstein Variation: Nxe4
ECO C10
125K games
Gambits
French Defense: Alapin Gambit
ECO C00
117K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: St. George Defense: Nf3
ECO C00
109K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense: Be3
ECO C00
90K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Winawer Variation: a3
ECO C15
87K games
Gambits
French Defense: Franco-Hiva Gambit Accepted
ECO C00
83K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Guimard Defense
ECO C03
78K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation: Nf6
ECO C00
65K games
Gambits
French Defense: Marshall Gambit: Bb5+
ECO C10
61K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Classical Variation: Bd3
ECO C11
56K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation: d6
ECO C00
54K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation: c6
ECO C03
51K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: King's Indian Attack: c5
ECO C00
48K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Advance Variation: Ne7
ECO C02
44K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation: Nc6
ECO C03
43K games
Openings & Plans
French: Tarrasch Variation: Nc6
ECO C03
43K games
Anti-Openings
French Defense: Qe2
ECO C00
40K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Classical Variation: f3
ECO C11
40K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Rubinstein Variation: f3
ECO C10
36K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Winawer Variation: Bd3
ECO C15
35K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Winawer Variation: Bd2
ECO C15
34K games
Gambits
French Defense: Baeuerle Gambit
ECO C00
34K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Advance Variation: f6
ECO C02
32K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Winawer Variation: Ne2
ECO C15
31K games
Gambits
French Defense: St. George Defense, Sanky-George Gambit
ECO C00
30K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Paulsen Variation: Bb4
ECO C10
27K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Modern System
ECO C03
24K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Steiner Variation: Nf6
ECO C00
23K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: St. George Defense: e5
ECO C00
19K games
Gambits
French Defense: King's Indian Attack, Franco-Hiva Gambit
ECO C00
18K games
Gambits
French Defense: Marshall Gambit: dxc5
ECO C10
18K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: King's Indian Attack: d6
ECO C00
17K games
Gambits
French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit
ECO C00
17K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: St. George Defense: c4
ECO C00
16K games
Openings & Plans
French: Tarrasch Variation: c6
ECO C03
15K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Mediterranean Defense: Bd3
ECO C00
12K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Morozevich Variation
ECO C03
11K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: King's Indian Attack: Nf6
ECO C00
10K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: King's Indian Attack: c6
ECO C00
9K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: King's Indian Attack: b6
ECO C00
8K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Two Knights Variation: Bb4
ECO C00
7K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation: Be7
ECO C03
5K games
Openings & Plans
French: Tarrasch Variation: Be7
ECO C03
5K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Haberditz Variation
ECO C03
5K games
Gambits
French Defense: Marshall Gambit: Be3
ECO C10
4K games
Openings & Plans
French Defense: Steiner Variation: c5
ECO C00
4K games
Gambits
French Defense: Morphy Gambit
ECO C00
3K games
Gambits
French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit, Pinova Gambit
ECO C00
67 games
Frequently asked questions about the French Defense
What is the french in chess?
The French is a chess opening family with 177 variations covered on Chessy. Over 792 million Lichess games have reached these positions across all rating levels.