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.

177 variations 792,023,533 total games Avg Stockfish +0.35

Play the main line: French Defense

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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.