Tree path 4 levels King's Pawn Game › Sicilian Defense › Sicilian Defense › French Variation
- Chess Codex
- King's Pawn Game B00
- Sicilian Defense B20
- Sicilian Defense B27
- French Variation B40 you are here
Sicilian Defense: French Variation
Overview
Sicilian Defense: French Variation is a specific line in the Semi-Open Games family (ECO B40), arising from a recognised theoretical position.
The Semi-Open Games group covers semi-open games — replies to 1.e4 where Black declines the symmetrical 1…e5 in favour of an asymmetric pawn structure.
It is reached after 4 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6.
The line refines Sicilian Defense, which traces back to the root opening King's Pawn Game.
The line has 8 documented children — Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with e6, Sicilian Defense: Drazic Variation, Open, and others being widely played.
Below the direct variations, the full subtree contains 60 documented sub-variations.
Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.
- ECO code
- B40
- Group
- Semi-Open Games (B)
- Plies
- 4
- Parent
- Sicilian Defense
- Direct variations
- 8
- Total in subtree
- 60
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 (8)
- B40 Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with e6
- B40 Sicilian Defense: Drazic Variation
- B40 Open
- B40 Westerinen Attack
- B40 Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack, Fianchetto Variation
- B40 Sicilian Defense: Kramnik Variation
- B40 Sicilian Defense: Marshall Counterattack
- B40 Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit Deferred
Show all 60 sub-variations (full subtree)
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