French Defense: Normal Variation

French Defense: Normal Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code C00, part of the French Defense family. It goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e6. After 3 moves it is Black to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
• 1... e6 – Black plays the pawn to e6
• 2. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 2... d5.

About the French Defense

Black answers 1.e4 with 1...e6 and then ...d5, attacking White's centre. Black accepts a little less space for a very solid position.

• If White plays e5, pawn chains form: White attacks on the kingside, Black on the queenside.
• Black hits the chain at its base with ...c5 and adds pressure with ...Nc6 and ...Qb6.
• The light-squared bishop on c8 is often passive; Black may trade it or free it with ...b6 and ...Ba6.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the French Defense: Normal Variation course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: French Defense (1. e4 e6)
• Continues with: French Defense – adds 2... d5
• Continues with: French Defense: Baeuerle Gambit – adds 2... b5
• Continues with: French Defense: Franco-Hiva Gambit – adds 2... f5
• Continues with: French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense – adds 2... c5
• Continues with: French Defense: Mediterranean Defense – adds 2... Nf6
• Continues with: French Defense: St. George Defense – adds 2... a6
• Related line: French Defense: Morphy Gambit (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nh3)
• Related line: French Defense: Orthoschnapp Gambit (1. e4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Qb3)
• Related line: French Defense: Mediterranean Defense (1. e4 e6 2. d4 Nf6)
• Related line: French Defense: Pelikan Variation (1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. f4)
• Related line: French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit (1. e4 e6 2. f4 d5 3. Nf3 dxe4)
• Related line: French Defense: Perseus Gambit (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3)

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