Chess opening · ECO C00
French Defense: Knight Variation
In the Knight Variation, White meets the French with 2.Nf3 instead of grabbing the center with 2.d4. The knight comes out first and the d-pawn stays home, so White can still choose between d4, a quiet d3 or even a later c4. Black's reply decides whether the game drifts back toward a normal French, turns into a Sicilian, or becomes a slower maneuvering game.
- Rank by weighted share
- #28 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 e6 2. Nf3
- 2. Nf3The knight develops and covers d4 and e5 without fixing the pawn shape. It also keeps a pawn push to e5 possible later with extra support, since the f3 knight would back it up.
2...d5 and White's three answers
Black's main answer is still 2...d5. If White now plays 3.d4, the game rejoins the French proper. 3.exd5 exd5 opens the e-file, and a later d4 gives the symmetrical Exchange structure.
The other way is to keep the pawns flexible with 3.d3, then g3, Bg2 and short castling. White's later plan is often a push to e5 and a kingside attack, while Black looks for queenside play with ...c5 and ...b5.
2...c5 turns it into a Sicilian
The reply 2...c5 reaches the same position as 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6, a Sicilian with ...e6. Black players who know those lines can use this move order to avoid many of White's French setups.
A slow kingside fianchetto
2... d5 3. d3 Nf6 4. Nbd2 c5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2
White's bishop on g2 and pawn on e4 hold the center, and the d2 knight keeps c4 and e4 covered. Black has a broad pawn front on c5 and d5 and will usually castle short and push the queenside pawns.
Top replies by rating
d5 leads in every band, and from 1200 up its share grows with rating. From 1400 up, c5 holds second place, steering the game into a Sicilian.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.