Chess Opening

French Defense

387 analyzed games in the French Defense, each with engine evaluations that pinpoint the critical moments and best moves.

387 games 130 variations Most played: French Defense Knight Variation

Results in 387 games

White wins 49% Draws 4% Black wins 46%

Main variations

French Defense Knight Variation 121 French Defense Knight Variation 2...d5 3.exd5 exd5 15 French Defense Exchange Variation 3...exd5 4.Nf3 14 French Defense Knight Variation 2...d5 13 French Defense Exchange Monte Carlo Variation 4...Nf6 5.Nf3 11 French Defense Knight Variation 2...d5 3.e5 10 French Defense Knight Variation 2...d5 3.e5 c5 8 French Defense Rubinstein Maric Variation 5.Nc3 6 French Defense Knight Variation 2...d5 3.exd5 6 French Defense Kings Indian Attack 2...d5 6 French Defense Rubinstein Variation 5 French Defense Knight Variation Two Knights Variation 3...Nf6 4.exd5 exd5 5 French Defense Queens Knight Variation 4 French Defense Chigorin Variation 2...c5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4 French Defense Advance Nimzowitsch System 4 French Defense Normal Variation 2...d5 3.Nc3 3 French Defense Normal Variation 3 French Defense Knight Variation Two Knights Variation 3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 3 French Defense Exchange Variation...5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bd3 O O 3 French Defense Exchange Variation...4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7 3 French Defense Exchange Variation 3...exd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bb5 3 French Defense Advance Paulsen Euwe Variation 3 French Defense Winawer Delayed Exchange Variation 4...exd5 2 French Defense St George Defense 3.Nf3 b5 2 French Defense St George Defense 3.Nf3 2 French Defense Rubinstein Blackburne Defense 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6 Nxf6 7.Be3 2 French Defense Queens Knight Variation 2...d5 2 French Defense Normal Variation 2...d5 3.Nc3 Nc6 2 French Defense Normal Variation 2...d5 2 French Defense Normal Variation 2...b6 3.Nf3 Bb7 2 French Defense Exchange Variation 3...exd5 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 2 French Defense Exchange Variation 3...exd5 4.Nf3 Nf6 2 French Defense Exchange Variation 3...exd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 2 French Defense Exchange Variation 3...exd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 2 French Defense Exchange Monte Carlo Variation 4...Nf6 5.Nf3 Be7 2 French Defense Exchange Monte Carlo Variation 4...Nf6 5.Nf3 Bb4 6.Nc3 2 French Defense Exchange Monte Carlo Variation 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 c6 6.Nf3 2 French Defense Chigorin Variation 2...d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3 2 French Defense Advance Variation 2 French Defense Advance Paulsen Attack 5...cxd4 6.cxd4 Nge7 2 French Defense Advance Paulsen Attack 5...cxd4 6.cxd4 2 French Defense Advance Paulsen Attack 5...Qb6 2 French Defense Advance Nimzowitsch System 4...Nc6 2 French Defense Winawer Variation 4.Bd3 dxe4 5.Bxe4 Nf6 1 French Defense Winawer Variation 4.Bd3 c5 1 French Defense Winawer Delayed Exchange Variation 4...exd5 5.Bd3 Ne7 1 French Defense Winawer Advance Variation 1 French Defense Winawer Advance Petrosian Variation...7.a4 Ba6 8.Bxa6 Nxa6 1 French Defense Winawer Advance Bogoljubov Variation...6.a3 Bxc3 7.Bxc3 b6 1 French Defense Tarrasch Variation 3...h6 1

Explore the French Defense in the app to filter these games by colour, result and rating.

Notable games

Nitzan_Steinberg 3077
vs
Msb2 3190
1–0 2026·10·08
Review
Gen-Gutman 2750
vs
savchess06 2721
1–0 2026·10·03
Review
baki83 3010
vs
Fantom2007 2842
1–0 2026·10·01
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MPCandelario 2704
vs
skadir-47 1911
1–0 2026·09·30
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kintoho 2658
vs
ANTONINPD 2727
1–0 2026·09·29
Review
Antoni_Radzimski 2830
vs
Arseniy_Nesterov 3178
0–1 2026·09·29
Review
only_strong_moves 3067
vs
FlavioCobolli 3085
0–1 2026·09·29
Review
tigrangharamian 3121
vs
Arseniy_Nesterov 3169
1–0 2026·09·29
Review
RaunakSadhwani2005 2686
vs
arnav3188 108
1–0 2026·09·28
Review
chessbeast1391 2861
vs
Budisavljevic 2979
0–1 2026·09·28
Review
Caesar 3037
vs
MagnusCarlsen 3280
0–1 2026·09·28
Review
IKKPHD 2863
vs
wadsy27 2827
1–0 2026·09·27
Review
GM_dmitrij 3075
vs
MightyGMpretender 3033
0–1 2026·09·24
Review
GM_dmitrij 3094
vs
MightyGMpretender 3014
1–0 2026·09·24
Review
ural58 2757
vs
gmsolver 3022
0–1 2026·09·22
Review
SavelijTartakover 2868
vs
Teodor_El_Motodor 2940
½–½ 2026·09·22
Review
TheShakyRock 2864
vs
aceontheturn 2909
0–1 2026·09·20
Review
Calenofatal 2726
vs
A_Morgunov 2659
1–0 2026·09·19
Review
Arek_pacitan 2850
vs
somber2026 2920
1–0 2026·09·18
Review
allblacksGOAT 2805
vs
wadsy27 2846
1–0 2026·09·17
Review
MaestroG 2615
vs
farfromperfect 2431
1–0 2026·09·17
Review
GMchavez 2847
vs
Gareth-Bale11 3045
0–1 2026·09·17
Review
Yos_iin 2456
vs
RichardBitoon 2475
0–1 2026·09·17
Review
only_strong_moves 2978
vs
Matibar 3018
0–1 2026·09·15
Review
miko08012012 681
vs
ansprvt 2884
1–0 2026·09·12
Review

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