1. e4 e6
Shown from Black's side. ECO C00.
Opening guide · an opening for Black
French Defense
The French Defense starts 1. e4 e6. Black prepares 2...d5 to challenge White's e pawn with solid support. The pawn chain that results gives Black a firm position and a clear plan of attacking White's centre with ...c5. The price is the bishop on c8, which is shut in behind the e6 pawn.
- Games in our sample
- 199,739
- White wins
- 48.1%
- Draws
- 4.5%
- Black wins
- 47.4%
How the French Defense scores at each rating
Each row is one rating band. The share is how much of all the games in that band started with this opening.
| Rating | Games | Share | White wins | Draws | Black wins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| under 1000 | 9,970 | 4.4% | 48.8% | 4.6% | 46.6% | |
| 1000 to 1199 | 16,554 | 5.2% | 47.9% | 3.7% | 48.4% | |
| 1200 to 1399 | 27,691 | 5.9% | 48.5% | 3.5% | 47.9% | |
| 1400 to 1599 | 38,519 | 6.3% | 47.8% | 3.7% | 48.5% | |
| 1600 to 1799 | 43,672 | 6.8% | 48.1% | 4.3% | 47.6% | |
| 1800 to 1999 | 37,066 | 7.2% | 47.9% | 5.0% | 47.1% | |
| 2000 to 2199 | 18,726 | 7.2% | 48.4% | 5.7% | 45.8% | |
| 2200 and over | 7,541 | 6.7% | 48.2% | 9.4% | 42.5% | |
| All ratings | 199,739 | 6.3% | 48.1% | 4.5% | 47.4% |
Counted from 3,156,949 rated blitz, rapid and classical games played on Lichess from 2026-10-01 to 2026-10-02 (the first 5,000,000 games of the month's public file; bullet and unrated games left out). The rating is the average of the two players' Lichess ratings. Source: the Lichess open database (public domain).
Main lines
The named lines of the French Defense that were played most in our sample, each with the position it reaches.
Exchange Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5
34,414 games · White 47.9% · draws 5.5% · Black 46.6%
Analyse this positionKnight Variation
1. e4 e6 2. Nf3
26,805 games · White 48.8% · draws 4.3% · Black 46.9%
Analyse this positionNormal Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4
15,677 games · White 51.2% · draws 3.8% · Black 45.0%
Analyse this positionAdvance Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5
15,569 games · White 47.1% · draws 3.7% · Black 49.2%
Analyse this positionLa Bourdonnais Variation
1. e4 e6 2. f4
7,690 games · White 48.6% · draws 3.4% · Black 47.9%
Analyse this positionAdvance Variation, Nimzowitsch System
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3
6,108 games · White 45.4% · draws 3.5% · Black 51.1%
Analyse this position
Ideas for White
- The Advance (3. e5), the Exchange (3. exd5) and the knight moves 3. Nc3 and 3. Nd2 are the main choices.
- In the Advance, defend d4 well: it is the base of your pawn chain.
Ideas for Black
- Attack the chain at its base with ...c5, and add ...Nc6 and ...Qb6 against d4.
- Find a job for the bishop on c8: trade it, or bring it out with ...b6 and ...Ba6.
Questions
- What are the moves of the French Defense?
- 1. e4 e6. In the ECO classification it is filed under C00.
- How does the French Defense score?
- In 199,739 games with it in our sample, White won 48.1%, 4.5% were drawn and Black won 47.4%.
- At which ratings is the French Defense played most?
- Among players rated 1800 to 1999 it is 7.2% of all games in our sample, its highest share. Its lowest share, 4.4%, is among players rated under 1000.
- Which line of the French Defense is played most?
- French Defense: Exchange Variation (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5), with 34,414 games in our sample.