Chess opening · ECO C11
French Defense: Classical Variation
In the Classical Variation Black answers 3.Nc3 with 3...Nf6, attacking e4 a second time with a natural developing move. White must now act. The e5 push kicks the knight back to d7 and builds a chain like the Advance French. The Bg5 pin keeps the tension and pins the f6 knight to the queen on d8, so Black has to decide how to break it.
- Rank by weighted share
- #116 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6
- 3... Nf6The knight develops with a threat: e4 is now hit by the d5 pawn and the f6 knight, while only the c3 knight defends it. Unlike the Winawer, Black is not planning to trade a bishop for the c3 knight, so both bishops stay on the board.
The e5 push and the f4 support
After e5 and ...Nfd7, White often backs the e5 pawn with f4, so a later ...f6 meets a second defender. Black replies with ...c5 and ...Nc6, piling onto d4. White develops with Nf3 and Be3, keeping d4 defended by pieces since the c-pawn is behind the c3 knight.
The f4 pawn also gives White chances on the kingside, such as a later f5 push.
How Black meets Bg5
The bishop on g5 pins the f6 knight along the g5-d8 diagonal. Black can break the pin with ...Be7, take on e4 with ...dxe4, or counter with ...Bb4, pinning White's knight in return. After ...Be7 the main path is e5 ...Nfd7 and an exchange of dark-squared bishops.
Chain on d4 and e5, backed by f4
4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3
White's pawns on d4, e5 and f4 hold space, and the knight and bishop guard d4. Black has the c5 pawn and the c6 knight on d4 and can add ...Qb6 or ...cxd4 to raise the pressure.
Top replies by rating
e5 tops the 1200 to 1799 bands. From 1800 up, Bg5 moves ahead and e5 drops to second.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | e5 69% | exd5 31% | – |
| 1200–1399 | e5 52% | Bg5 20% | exd5 15% |
| 1400–1599 | e5 62% | Bg5 25% | Bd3 7% |
| 1600–1799 | e5 53% | Bg5 39% | Bd3 4% |
| 1800–1999 | Bg5 52% | e5 41% | exd5 4% |
| 2000 and up | Bg5 56% | e5 37% | exd5 4% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.