Tree path 6 levels French Defense › Normal Variation › French Defense › Paulsen Variation › French Defense: Steinitz Variation › French Defense: Classical Variation
C14

French Defense: Classical Variation

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Overview

French Defense: Classical Variation is a named branch in the Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO C14.

The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.

It begins with 11 plies and takes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bg5 to reach the canonical position.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from French Defense: Steinitz Variation, part of the broader French Defense system.

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ECO code
C14
Group
Open Games (C)
Plies
11
Parent
French Defense: Steinitz Variation

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