Tree path 4 levels French Defense › Normal Variation › French Defense › Paulsen Variation
- Chess Codex
- French Defense C00
- Normal Variation C00
- French Defense C00
- Paulsen Variation C10 you are here
French Defense: Paulsen Variation
Overview
French Defense: Paulsen Variation is a specific line in the Open Games family (ECO C10), arising from a recognised theoretical position.
The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.
Play reaches this position via 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3, after 5 plies of opening development.
The line refines French Defense, which traces back to the root opening French Defense.
The line has 6 documented children — French Defense: Classical Variation, French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation, French Defense: Marshall Gambit, and others being widely played.
This is a deep theory tree with 116 total sub-variations across all depths — one of the larger branches in chess theory.
Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.
- ECO code
- C10
- Group
- Open Games (C)
- Plies
- 5
- Parent
- French Defense
- Direct variations
- 6
- Total in subtree
- 116
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. A more detailed, human-written description is on the way — and you can speed it up by suggesting one yourself.
Statistics from Lichess
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Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached
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Variations (6)
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