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French Defense

Black builds a wall of pawns and strikes back at the center a little later.

17 openings · 108 lines

French Defense

Black builds a wall of pawns and strikes back at the center a little later.

You play Black1. e4ECO code C00Difficulty: Medium14 moves to learn

Lines

Main lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7

Other White setups

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd6
  2. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 c4
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McCutcheon Variation

You play WhiteECO code C12Difficulty: Medium11 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Ne2 Nf6 5. Bg5
  2. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4 Kf8 9. Bc1
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McCutcheon Variation

You play Black1. e4ECO code C12Difficulty: Medium15 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Qd2 Qa5
  2. 1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. exf6 hxg5 7. fxg7 Rg8 8. h4 gxh4
  3. 1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4 g6
  4. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Qd2 Qa5
  5. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. exf6 hxg5 7. fxg7 Rg8 8. h4 gxh4
  6. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4 g6
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Other lines

You play WhiteECO code C00Difficulty: Medium8 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3
  2. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3
  3. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 f5 3. exf5
Train this opening

Other lines

You play WhiteECO code C00Difficulty: Medium22 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bg5
  2. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Ne5
  3. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bd7 5. Nf3
  4. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3
  5. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. f4 O-O 8. Nf3 c5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. O-O-O
  6. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Ng8 6. Be3
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Other lines

You play Black1. e4ECO code C00Difficulty: Medium14 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 gxf6
  2. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7
  3. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6
  4. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. c4 dxe4
  5. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Qe2 e5 4. f4 exf4
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St. George Defense

You play WhiteECO code C00Difficulty: Medium6 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. Nf3 b5 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Bb7 6. O-O
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St. George Defense

You play Black1. e4ECO code C00Difficulty: Medium8 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. c4 b5 4. cxb5 axb5
  2. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. Nf3 b5 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Bb7 6. O-O Nf6
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Steinitz Variation

You play WhiteECO code C11Difficulty: Medium8 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Ne2
  2. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Qg4
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Steinitz Variation

You play Black1. e4ECO code C11Difficulty: Medium10 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Qg4
  2. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. dxc5 Nc6 7. a3 Bxc5 8. Qg4 O-O 9. Nf3 f6
  3. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6
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Tarrasch Variation

You play WhiteECO code C03Difficulty: Medium21 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3
  2. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4
  3. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O Ne7 9. c3
  4. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4
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Tarrasch Variation

You play Black1. e4ECO code C03Difficulty: Medium8 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O Ne7
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Winawer Variation

You play WhiteECO code C15Difficulty: Medium14 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4
  2. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Nc6 7. Nf3 Qa5 8. Bd2
  3. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. h4
  4. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 cxd4 6. axb4 dxc3 7. Nf3
  5. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. h4
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French Defense

You play WhiteECO code C00Difficulty: Demanding40 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. Nf3 b5 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Bb7 6. O-O
  2. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Ne2
  3. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Ne5
  4. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bd7 5. Nf3
  5. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4
  6. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Nc6 7. Nf3 Qa5 8. Bd2
  7. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. h4
  8. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 cxd4 6. axb4 dxc3 7. Nf3
  9. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. h4
  10. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3
  11. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4 Kf8 9. Bc1
  12. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4 Bxg5 7. hxg5
  13. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Ng8 6. Be3
  14. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 f5 3. exf5
Train this opening

French Defense

You play Black1. e4ECO code C00Difficulty: Demanding37 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7
  2. 1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Nc6
  3. 1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5
  4. 1. e4 e6 2. b3 d5
  5. 1. e4 e6 2. b4 Bxb4
  6. 1. e4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. cxd5 exd5
  7. 1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Nc6
  8. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7
  9. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Nc6
  10. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5
  11. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 Nc6
  12. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. c4 dxe4
  13. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Qe2 e5 4. f4 exf4
  14. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 Nc6
  15. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Bd6
  16. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6
  17. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Qg4 cxd4
  18. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4
  19. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4
  20. 1. e4 e6 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4
  21. 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e5 c5
Train this opening

Other lines

You play Black1. e4ECO code C00Difficulty: Demanding38 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5
  2. 1. e4 e6 2. b3 d5
  3. 1. e4 e6 2. b4 Bxb4
  4. 1. e4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. cxd5 exd5
  5. 1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Nc6
  6. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7
  7. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4 Bxg5
  8. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Nc6
  9. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd6
  10. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 Nc6
  11. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Bd6 6. O-O O-O
  12. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 c4
  13. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cxd4
  14. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Qg4 cxd4
  15. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4
  16. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4
  17. 1. e4 e6 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4
  18. 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e5 c5
Train this opening

Winawer Variation

You play Black1. e4ECO code C15Difficulty: Demanding29 moves to learn

Lines

  1. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 dxe4
  2. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 dxe4 5. Qg4 Nf6 6. Qxg7 Rg8
  3. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 Ne7
  4. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. a4 Nbc6 8. Nf3 Qa5 9. Bd2 Bd7
  5. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. a4 Nbc6 8. Nf3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Bd7
  6. 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
  7. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Bd3 Nbc6
  8. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Nf3 Qc7
  9. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. h4 Qc7
  10. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. Bd2 Ne7
  11. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd3 c5 5. exd5 Qxd5
  12. 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Ne2 dxe4 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Nxc3 Nc6
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