Chess openings / French Defense
French Defense: Classical Variation, Swiss Variation
French Defense: Classical Variation, Swiss Variation (C11) starts 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bd3. In 233 games between strong players, White wins 50%, 11% are drawn and Black wins 40%; the most played move is 4…c5 (62%).
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bd3
- ECO
- C11
- Games between strong players
- 233
- To move
- Black
White wins, draws and Black wins, from this position.
What strong players play next
The moves played most from this position in over-the-board broadcasts and the Lichess Elite Database, how often, and how the games ended.
| Move | Played | Results | Leads to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4…c5 | 62% (145) | – | |
| 4…dxe4 | 21% (49) | – | |
| 4…Bb4 | 9% (21) | – | |
| 4…Be7 | 3% (8) | – | |
| 4…Nc6 | 2% (5) | – | |
| 4…a6 | 1% (3) | – |
Where it comes from and where it goes
Branches from French Defense: Classical Variation 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6
More French Defense lines
- French Defense 99,820 games
- French Defense: Normal Variation 83,531 games
- French Defense: Paulsen Variation 37,893 games
- French Defense: Tarrasch Variation 17,534 games
- French Defense: Advance Variation 16,826 games
- French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation 12,957 games
- French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack 12,083 games
- French Defense: Winawer Variation 11,959 games
- French Defense: Steinitz Variation 10,175 games
- French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation 8,299 games
- French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation 8,033 games
- French Defense: Exchange Variation 7,826 games
Played the French Defense lately?
Enter your Chess.com or Lichess username: every move of your game labelled from Brilliant to Blunder, and where you left theory. Free, no account.