How do you play the French Defense?

The French Defense begins with the moves 1. e4 e6. Black challenges the center with ...d5, often leading to a locked pawn structure after 2. d4 d5 3. e5.

Black DefenseC00–C19Intermediate

French Defense

1. e4 e6

Overview

The French Defense (1. e4 e6) is a solid, strategically rich opening where Black prepares an immediate challenge to White's e4-pawn with 2...d5. The resulting pawn structures give both sides clear plans, making it a favorite of positional players.

Position after 1. e4 e6

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Key Ideas

Black challenges the center with ...d5, often leading to a locked pawn structure after 2. d4 d5 3. e5.
In the Advance Variation, Black targets the d4-c5 pawn chain base with ...c5 and ...f6.
The light-squared bishop on c8 is often Black's worst piece and a key strategic problem to solve.
White typically gains kingside space while Black plays for counterattack on the queenside.

Main Variations

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Winawer Variation — Poisoned Pawn

12 moves

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Ne2 Nbc6 11. f4 Bd7 12. Qd3 dxc3

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Advance Variation

12 moves

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 Nh6 7. b4 cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5 9. Bb2 Be7 10. Bd3 Nfxd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. O-O

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Tarrasch Variation

12 moves

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4 f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. O-O Bd6 11. Nf3 O-O 12. Bg5

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Classical Variation — Steinitz

12 moves

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Qb6 8. Qd2 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Bc5 11. Bxc5 Qxc5 12. O-O-O

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History

The French Defense dates back to an 1834 correspondence match between Paris and London. It was later championed by Botvinnik, Petrosian, and more recently by Morozevich and Nikita Vitiugov.

Related Openings

Caro-Kann Defense

1. e4 c6

B10–B19

Sicilian Defense

1. e4 c5

B20–B99

Scandinavian Defense

1. e4 d5

B01

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Key Ideas

Black challenges the center with ...d5, often leading to a locked pawn structure after 2. d4 d5 3. e5.

In the Advance Variation, Black targets the d4-c5 pawn chain base with ...c5 and ...f6.

The light-squared bishop on c8 is often Black's worst piece and a key strategic problem to solve.

White typically gains kingside space while Black plays for counterattack on the queenside.

Main Variations

Step through each line move by move — use the arrow controls, click a move in the list, or press the arrow keys on your keyboard.

Winawer Variation — Poisoned Pawn

12 moves

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Ne2 Nbc6 11. f4 Bd7 12. Qd3 dxc3

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Advance Variation

12 moves

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 Nh6 7. b4 cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5 9. Bb2 Be7 10. Bd3 Nfxd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. O-O

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Tarrasch Variation

12 moves

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4 f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. O-O Bd6 11. Nf3 O-O 12. Bg5

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Classical Variation — Steinitz

12 moves

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Qb6 8. Qd2 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Bc5 11. Bxc5 Qxc5 12. O-O-O

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