Main line, through 1... e6C00
1. e4 e6
In the centre, White holds e4.
C00-C19
French Defense
212 named lines in this family, ECO C00-C19. Every one of them opens 1. e4 e6, so the notes on those moves are written once, just below, instead of once per line. Under each line you get its moves and the sentences it adds that this page has not already printed; sixty lines to a page. A line's own page carries up to its first 4 per-move notes in full.
The moves every line here plays
1. e4 e6
- 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
- 1... e6 Supports the centre, adding control of d5. Theory calls this the French Defense.
Banzai-Leong GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. b4
- 2. b4 Opens the c1-a3 diagonal for the bishop. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Banzai-Leong Gambit: development and initiative over material.
Bird InvitationC00
1. e4 e6 2. Bb5
Black's pawn on d7 is pinned against the king.
- 2. Bb5 Develops with a pin: the pawn on d7 is stuck shielding the king. Theory calls this the Bird Invitation.
Chigorin VariationC00
1. e4 e6 2. Qe2
- 2. Qe2 Develops the queen to e2, eyeing e4. It also props up the e4 pawn. Theory calls this the Chigorin Variation.
Horwitz AttackC00
1. e4 e6 2. b3
- 2. b3 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via b2. Theory calls this the Horwitz Attack.
King's Indian AttackC00
1. e4 e6 2. d3
- 2. d3 Supports the centre, adding control of e4. Theory calls this the King's Indian Attack.
Knight VariationC00
1. e4 e6 2. Nf3
- 2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5. Theory calls this the Knight Variation.
La Bourdonnais VariationC00
1. e4 e6 2. f4
- 2. f4 Fights for e5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the La Bourdonnais Variation.
Normal VariationC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4
In the centre, White holds d4 and e4.
- 2. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
Queen's KnightC00
1. e4 e6 2. Nc3
- 2. Nc3 Develops the knight to c3, eyeing d5 and e4. Theory calls this the Queen's Knight.
Réti-Spielmann AttackC00
1. e4 e6 2. g3
- 2. g3 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g2. Theory calls this the Réti-Spielmann Attack.
Steiner VariationC00
1. e4 e6 2. c4
- 2. c4 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Steiner Variation.
Steinitz AttackC00
1. e4 e6 2. e5
In the centre, White holds e5.
- 2. e5 Pushes on to e5 - grabbing space and fixing the centre. Theory calls this the Steinitz Attack.
Baeuerle GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 b5
- 2... b5 Opens the c8-a6 diagonal for the bishop. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Baeuerle Gambit: development and initiative over material.
Franco-Hiva GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 f5
- 2... f5 Challenges the pawn on e4 - the central tension has to resolve. Theory calls this the Franco-Hiva Gambit.
Franco-Sicilian DefenseC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5
- 2... c5 Challenges the pawn on d4 - the central tension has to resolve. Theory calls this the Franco-Sicilian Defense.
King's Indian Attack, Franco-Hiva GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. d3 f5
Knight Variation, Franco-Hiva GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 f5
Main line, after 2. d4C00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5
...e6 and ...d5 build a pawn wall that concedes space but never weakness: Black hits the white centre with ...c5 and later ...f6 while the light-squared bishop waits for its moment.
- 2... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen.
Mediterranean DefenseC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 Nf6
- 2... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4. Theory calls this the Mediterranean Defense.
St. George DefenseC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6
- 2... a6 Takes b5 away from White's bishop. Theory calls this the St. George Defense.
Alapin GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Be3
The pawns on d5 and e4 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure.
Banzai-Leong Gambit, Pinova GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. b4 Bxb4 3. e5
The structure hands White the half-open b-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan. Black keeps the extra pawn; White plays for time, open lines, and initiative - the classic gambit trade.
- 2... Bxb4 Takes the pawn on b4.
Diemer-Duhm GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. c4
Franco-Hiva Gambit AcceptedC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 f5 3. exf5
An early pawn trade leaves the e-file as White's avenue and the f-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.
Horwitz Attack, Papa-Ticulat GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. b3 d5 3. Bb2
White's queenside bishop takes the long diagonal.
Morphy GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nh3
Pelikan VariationC00
1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. f4
Perseus GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3
Schlechter VariationC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Bd3
St. George Defense, Three Pawn AttackC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. c4
Two Knights VariationC00
1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3
Diemer-Duhm Gambit AcceptedC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. c4 dxe4
An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as Black's avenue and the e-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.
La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4
St. George Defense, Sanky-George GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. c4 b5
Carlson GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4 4. Ne5
Orthoschnapp GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Qb3
An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as White's avenue and the e-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.
Wing GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e5 c5 4. b4
Hoffmann GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Qe2 e5 4. f4 exf4
An early pawn trade leaves the e-file as Black's avenue and the f-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.
St. George Defense, St. George GambitC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. c4 b5 4. cxb5 axb5
An early pawn trade leaves the a-file as Black's avenue and the c-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.
Reversed Philidor FormationC00
1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. Be2
St. George Defense, Traditional LineC00
1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. Nf3 b5 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Bb7 6. O-O Nf6
Black's queenside bishop takes the long diagonal.
Exchange Variation, through 3. exd5C01
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5
The symmetric structure promises a level game - whoever develops with more purpose and controls the open e-file gets whatever advantage exists.
Exchange Variation, after 3... exd5, through 4. Nf3C01
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3
Exchange Variation, after 3... exd5, through 4. Nc3C01
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nc3
Exchange Variation, Monte Carlo VariationC01
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. c4
Exchange Variation, Svenonius VariationC01
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bg5
Exchange Variation, Bogoljubow VariationC01
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 Nc6
Advance Variation, through 3. e5C02
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5
e5 gains space and shuts in Black's king's bishop; the whole game revolves around the d4 point - Black piles on it with ...c5 and ...Nc6.
Advance Variation, after 3... c5, through 3... c5C02
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5
Advance Variation, Extended Bishop SwapC02
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bd7
Advance Variation, after 3... c5, through 4. c3C02
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3
e5 gains space and shuts in Black's king's bishop; the whole game revolves around the d4 point - Black piles on it with ...c5 and ...Nc6; White defends it with c3.
Advance Variation, Frenkel GambitC02
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. b4
Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch AttackC02
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Qg4
Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch SystemC02
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3
Advance Variation, Steinitz VariationC02
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5
An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as Black's avenue and the d-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. e5 gains space and shuts in Black's king's bishop.
Advance Variation, after 3... c5, through 4... Nc6C02
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6
Advance Variation, Kupreichik VariationC02
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Be3
Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch GambitC02
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Qg4 cxd4 5. Nf3
Advance Variation, Paulsen AttackC02
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3
Lines 1–60 of 212 — page 1 of 4.
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