The French Defense meets 1. with , so that arrives with the pawn already protected. If your opponent pushes on to e5, they build a d4–e5 pawn chain, and your job is to hit its base, d4, with your c-pawn. Rated 900 to 1700, you score 50% with it (N = 1,826,778 Lichess games, September 2026).
Lichess games from September 2026 (30,577,162 rated 900 to 1700) and 31,791 over-the-board games rated 2300+ from the last 12 months. Data updated: October 14, 2026.
171 named lines in this family; 5 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
After 1. , strong online players go 2. in 73 games out of 100. At your level only 38 do, and another 33 play 2.. After 2. , nearly half your opponents, 49 in 100, lock the centre with 3., and 29 swap with 3.. Among strong players the top choice is 3., at 40 in 100. Against 3., the gap is on your side of the board: the most common reply at your level is , in 26 games out of 100, and it is a mistake. Strong players pick in 48 out of 100 and in 31.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38.2% | 50.6% | 72.9% | 94.8% | |
| 33.3% | 50.1% | 9.4% | 2.0% | |
| 6.4% | 47.8% | no data | no data | |
| 6.4% | 50.6% | 4.4% | no data | |
| 4.0% | 48.9% | no data | no data | |
| 3.7% | 50.3% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 6.2% | 2.0% | |
| no data | no data | 2.0% | 1.2% | |
| no data | no data | 1.6% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59.8% | 49.5% | 94.4% | 99.6% | |
| 7.9% | 50.5% | 1.8% | no data | |
| 6.0% | 52.3% | 0.6% | no data | |
| 5.3% | 52.1% | no data | no data | |
| 4.9% | 51.1% | 1.5% | no data | |
| 2.6% | 52.9% | 0.3% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48.9% | 47.9% | 22.6% | 18.5% | |
| 28.8% | 51.3% | 12.5% | 7.6% | |
| 15.2% | 52.2% | 39.8% | 55.4% | |
| 2.3% | 52.8% | 21.7% | 17.7% | |
| 1.5% | 51.0% | 2.7% | 0.7% | |
| 0.9% | 46.3% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.3% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25.8% | 53.3% | 0.9% | no data | |
| 23.5% | 52.6% | 15.3% | 12.4% | |
| 20.2% | 49.4% | 47.6% | 49.5% | |
| 17.5% | 52.3% | 31.2% | 31.1% | |
| 5.0% | 54.4% | no data | no data | |
| 3.3% | 53.8% | 2.5% | 4.7% | |
| no data | no data | 0.8% | 1.3% | |
| no data | no data | no data | 1.1% |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62.2% | 49.8% | 56.1% | 58.9% | |
| 15.7% | 51.4% | 37.7% | 41.1% | |
| 7.0% | 50.2% | 3.3% | no data | |
| 6.9% | 49.6% | 2.1% | no data | |
| 3.4% | 49.8% | 0.2% | no data | |
| 1.9% | 55.9% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.3% | no data |
The strong players' line runs 2. 3. 4. 5. . It leads to the structure the French is built around: your opponent closes the centre with a d4–e5 pawn chain, and you go after its base, d4, with your c-pawn. If d4 falls or gets traded, e5 loses the pawn holding it up.
sets up , so your d-pawn lands with support and challenges e4 straight away. The cost is your c8 bishop: with pawns on e6 and d5 it can only reach d7, boxed in behind your pawns. That is why your play belongs on the queenside, where you can manage without it.
3. defends e4. attacks it a second time, with the d5 pawn and the knight, and forces your opponent to settle the tension. 4. grabs space and kicks the knight. The retreat is not a random one: from d7 the knight eyes e5 and covers c5, the square your break needs. 5. puts a second pawn behind e5. Then comes , the choice of 96 strong players in 100. It hits d4, which at that moment only the queen on d1 defends.
Move order matters here. The knight comes out before the c-pawn because an immediate opens the centre with your king still on e8. The mistakes section shows how that goes wrong.
The same idea holds when your opponent closes things earlier with 3.. In that structure, 97 strong players in 100 attack the base of the chain with the c-pawn, and 14 in 100 online turn to the f-pawn against e5.
At your level the line tends to drift early. After , only 29 opponents in 100 play 5., against 76 in 100 strong players. Without that pawn, e5 has one less pawn behind it, and your strike at d4 stays exactly the same.
Plan played in 97% of the 260 over-the-board games rated 2300+ with this structure.
Online, 2200+: 97.5% of 16,186. Over the board, 2300+: 97.3% of 260; the alternative, : 14.0% and 21.5%.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 99,956 | 73.2% | |
| 76,616 | 94.5% | |
| 72,549 | 40.1% | |
| 31,593 | 47.6% | |
| 16,222 | 56.2% | |
| 9,079 | 96.3% | |
| 8,805 | 75.8% | |
| 6,652 | 96.0% |
A mistake. After 3., opens the centre with your king on e8. Play goes 4. 5. 6. : the e-file is open and both your bishops are pinned to the king. If 7. follows, the e7 bishop cannot take back. Play . At your level 26 in 100 play it, and you score 46.7 against 50.6.
26 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.3 pawns of advantage. It scores 46.7%; scores 50.6%.
An inaccuracy that rarely gets punished at your level. After 2., holds back the d-pawn and leaves c6 without the b7 pawn guarding it. In the line 3. 4. 5. , the e5 knight eyes c6 and you spend a tempo keeping the enemy bishop off b5. Play . You score 49.5 against 50.8.
6 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.8 pawns of advantage. It scores 49.5%; scores 50.8%.
An inaccuracy that barely gets punished at your level. After 2., moves the d-pawn just one square. In the line 3. 4. 5. it ends up on d5 anyway, so you reach the French structure a tempo down. Play right away. You score 49 against 50.8.
6 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 49.0%; scores 50.8%.
An inaccuracy that makes almost no difference at your level: you score 50.1 against 50.8. After 2., commits the c-pawn too early. In the line 3. 4. 5. your opponent already has the d4–e5 chain, and that pawn needs another move to reach c5. Play .
6 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 50.1%; scores 50.8%.
An inaccuracy, but an expensive one. After 3., parks the knight in front of your c-pawn, which can no longer reach c5 to hit d4. In the line 4. 5. 6. you have to go after e5 instead. Play . At your level 11 in 100 players choose it, and you score 45.4 against 53.4.
11 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 45.4%; scores 53.4%.
A mistake, though at your level it rarely gets punished. After 2., brings the queen out before any minor piece. Then 3. 4. : the c3 knight guards e4, which your queen was hitting, the f3 knight chases her, and she goes home with two enemy knights already out. Play . You score 48.7 against 50.5.
2 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.2 pawns of advantage. It scores 48.7%; scores 50.5%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 809,617 | ||
| Not castled | 302,317 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 206,577 |
| Not castled | 144,166 | |
| 132,165 | ||
| 116,704 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 731 | ||
| Not castled | 206 | |
| 138 | ||
| 105 | ||
| Not castled | Not castled | 104 |
| Not castled | 76 |
1. 2. 3.
354,244 amateur games · 270 over the board
3. fixes the d4–e5 chain and hands you d4 as a target. You score 52 in 100.
1. 2. 3.
286,992 amateur games · 120 over the board
After 3. there is no chain, and your c8 bishop gets its diagonal back.
1. 2. 3.
17,423 amateur games · 236 over the board
pins the c3 knight, the piece guarding e4, to the king.
1. 2. 3.
10,920 amateur games · 233 over the board
3. guards e4 and keeps c3 free for a pawn, but blocks the c1 bishop.
1. 2. · 332,112 amateur games · 12 over the board
2. holds back d4; answer and challenge e4 anyway. You score 50 in 100.
1. 2. · 168,030 amateur games · 5 over the board
After 2., strong players answer in 94 out of 100; at your level, other replies score worse.
1. 2. · 63,767 amateur games
2. lines up pawn support for e5 before d4 is played.
1. 2. · 62,585 amateur games · 1 over the board
2. covers e4 with the knight before deciding what the d-pawn does.
1. 2. · 48,180 amateur games · 27 over the board
2. props up e4 with a pawn instead of taking d4. You score 50 in 100.
1. 2. · 47,455 amateur games
2. pushes ahead with no pawn on d4 to back it. You score 50.5 in 100.
1. 2. · 36,679 amateur games
hits d4 at once, skipping d5. You score 50.7 in 100.
1. 2. 3. · 30,580 amateur games · 170 over the board
attacks e4 a second time, with pawn and knight, and makes your opponent commit.
1. 2. 3. · 27,576 amateur games · 10 over the board
After 2. , 3. guards e4 without d4 on the board. You score 51 in 100.
1. 2. 3. · 25,522 amateur games
opens the centre while your king still sits on e8, inviting checks down the e-file.
1. 2. 3. · 22,820 amateur games · 113 over the board
trades your d5 pawn for the one on e4 and releases the central tension.
1. 2. · 17,948 amateur games · 2 over the board
2. takes aim at d5 before your pawn gets there. You score 47.8 in 100.
1. 2. · 17,595 amateur games
hits e4 with the knight, but the pawn can kick it by advancing to e5.
1. 2. · 13,821 amateur games · 11 over the board
takes b5 away from enemy pieces and leaves the d-pawn for later.
1. 2. 3. · 9,962 amateur games · 20 over the board
3. guards e4 and leaves the choice to you; here you score just 45 in 100.
1. 2. · 8,450 amateur games · 1 over the board
2. prepares to bring the c1 bishop out on the long diagonal. You score 48.9 in 100.
1. 2. 3. · 6,729 amateur games · 11 over the board
3. guards e4 with the bishop but blocks the queen on the d-file.
1. 2. 3. · 6,452 amateur games
3. leaves e4 undefended in return for development. You score 53.6 in 100.
1. 2. 3. · 6,015 amateur games · 36 over the board
blocks your c-pawn and shelves the break against d4 for now.
1. 2. · 5,246 amateur games
2. prepares to develop the f1 bishop on g2 and holds back the d-pawn.
1. 2. · 3,794 amateur games
2. puts the bishop where or can hit it straight away.
1. 2. 3. 4. · C00
2,917 amateur games · White's score: 46.5%
1. 2. 3. · C00
2,738 amateur games · White's score: 50.5%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · C11
2,667 amateur games · White's score: 50.2%
1. 2. · C00
1,918 amateur games · White's score: 51.0%
1. 2. 3. · C00
1,846 amateur games · White's score: 52.9%
1. 2. 3. · C00
1,842 amateur games · White's score: 51.9%
1. 2. 3. · C00
1,756 amateur games · White's score: 47.4%
1. 2. · C00
1,611 amateur games · White's score: 54.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. · C00
1,450 amateur games · White's score: 54.9%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · C11
906 amateur games · White's score: 51.9%
1. 2. 3. · C00
887 amateur games · White's score: 55.1%
1. 2. 3. 4. · C12
616 amateur games · White's score: 57.3%
1. 2. 3. 4. · C11
587 amateur games · White's score: 55.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. · C00
522 amateur games · White's score: 56.4%
1. 2. · C00
341 amateur games · White's score: 63.3%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C13
274 amateur games · White's score: 58.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · C12
195 amateur games · White's score: 63.3%
1. 2. · C00
190 amateur games · White's score: 39.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C12
149 amateur games · White's score: 52.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · C13
117 amateur games · White's score: 56.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · C11
112 amateur games · White's score: 46.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · C12
65 amateur games · White's score: 63.8%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C12
60 amateur games · White's score: 62.5%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C13
51 amateur games · White's score: 55.9%
1. 2. 3. · C00
36 amateur games · White's score: 25.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · C00
23 amateur games · White's score: 65.2%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · C15
21 amateur games · White's score: 57.1%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C13
19 amateur games · White's score: 50.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C13
16 amateur games · White's score: 75.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C12
10 amateur games · White's score: 80.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · C11
9 amateur games · White's score: 88.9%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C13
8 amateur games · White's score: 75.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C12
3 amateur games · White's score: 66.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C12
1 amateur game · White's score: 0.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. · C12
1. 2. 3. · C00
1. 2. 3. 4. · C00
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · C12
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · C12
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · C12
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · C12
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · C11
It is the reply to 1., followed by . Your e6 pawn props up d5 but shuts in your c8 bishop, so your play is on the queenside, where your c-pawn attacks d4. It shows up in 6 games out of 100 between 900 and 1700, and over the board above 2300, strong players with Black score 40 in 100.
It works, because the plan keeps repeating: a d4–e5 chain, and your c-pawn hitting its base. At your level the most common line is 3., played by 49 opponents in 100, and there you score 52 in 100. The danger lies in your own moves: 26 players in 100 answer 3. with , which is a mistake.
Hit d4 with your c-pawn once the centre is closed. Against 3., that means straight away. Against 3., develop first with , and after 4. the knight covers c5 for the break. After 3., take back with and your c8 bishop is free.