French Defense
Stockfish 16.1 · runs in your browser1.e4 e6 · For Black against 1.e4 · ECO C00 to C19
The example line for French Defense is 1. e4 e6. Explore 212 saved positions and compare up to three engine continuations per position. The saved Stockfish 16 analysis reaches depth 16, with scores in pawns from White's perspective. Step through the opening on the board and try a continuation to explore the resulting position.
By Chessvia · Updated Oct 18, 2026
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French Defense
1.e4 e6
White’s choices
Stockfish 16 · depth 16 · + favours White
White slightly better +0.35
Engine lines
Banzai-Leong Gambit: 2.b4
Black clearly better -1.00
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinova Gambit | 2...Bxb4 3.e5 | Black clearly better -1.34 | Play |
Bird Invitation: 2.Bb5
Level -0.21
Play this lineChigorin Variation: 2.Qe2
Level -0.01
Play this lineHorwitz Attack: 2.b3
Level -0.28
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Papa-Ticulat Gambit | 2...d5 3.Bb2 | Black slightly better -0.34 | Play |
King's Indian Attack: 2.d3
Level +0.02
Play this lineKnight Variation: 2.Nf3
Level +0.24
Play this lineLa Bourdonnais Variation: 2.f4
Level -0.06
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reuter Gambit | 2...d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 | Black slightly better -0.87 | Play |
Normal Variation: 2.d4
White slightly better +0.39
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| After 2...d5 | White slightly better +0.38 | Play | |
| Alapin Gambit | 3.Be3 | Black slightly better -0.57 | Play |
| Diemer-Duhm Gambit | 3.c4 | Black slightly better -0.77 | Play |
| Diemer-Duhm Gambit Accepted | 3...dxe4 | Black slightly better -0.75 | Play |
| Hoffmann Gambit | 3.Qe2 e5 4.f4 exf4 | White slightly better +0.50 | Play |
| Morphy Gambit | 3.Nh3 | Black slightly better -0.69 | Play |
| Perseus Gambit | 3.Nf3 | Black slightly better -0.72 | Play |
| Carlson Gambit | 3...dxe4 4.Ne5 | Black slightly better -0.79 | Play |
| Schlechter Variation | 3.Bd3 | Level -0.07 | Play |
| Exchange Variation | 3.exd5 | Level +0.10 | Play |
| After 4.Nf3 | 3...exd5 4.Nf3 | Level +0.15 | Play |
| After 4.Nc3 | 3...exd5 4.Nc3 | Level +0.06 | Play |
| Monte Carlo Variation | 3...exd5 4.c4 | Level -0.01 | Play |
| Advance Variation | 3.e5 | Level +0.28 | Play |
| After 3...c5 | Level +0.27 | Play | |
| After 4.c3 | Level +0.24 | Play | |
| After 4...Nc6 | Level +0.25 | Play | |
| Kupreichik Variation | 5.Be3 | Level -0.17 | Play |
| Paulsen Attack | 5.Nf3 | Level +0.21 | Play |
| Euwe Variation | 5...Bd7 | Level +0.29 | Play |
| Main Line | 5...Qb6 6.a3 | Level +0.23 | Play |
| Lputian Variation | 6...Nh6 | White slightly better +0.65 | Play |
| Milner-Barry Gambit | 5...Qb6 6.Bd3 | Level +0.21 | Play |
| Hector Variation | 6...cxd4 7.O-O | Level +0.21 | Play |
| After 8.Re1 | 7...Bd7 8.Re1 | Level +0.20 | Play |
| Main Line | 6...cxd4 7.cxd4 Bd7 8.O-O | Level -0.21 | Play |
| Sørensen Variation | 8...Nxd4 9.Ng5 | Black slightly better -0.82 | Play |
| Wade Variation | 4...Qb6 5.Nf3 Bd7 | White slightly better +0.34 | Play |
| Frenkel Gambit | 4.b4 | Black slightly better -0.98 | Play |
| Nimzowitsch Attack | 4.Qg4 | Black slightly better -0.93 | Play |
| Nimzowitsch Gambit | 4...cxd4 5.Nf3 | Black slightly better -0.83 | Play |
| Nimzowitsch System | 4.Nf3 | Level -0.11 | Play |
| Ruisdonk Gambit | 4...cxd4 5.Bd3 | Level -0.07 | Play |
| Steinitz Variation | 4.dxc5 | Level -0.28 | Play |
| Extended Bishop Swap | 3...Bd7 | White slightly better +0.30 | Play |
| Tarrasch Variation | 3.Nd2 | White slightly better +0.32 | Play |
| Guimard Defense | 3...Nc6 | White slightly better +0.78 | Play |
| Thunderbunny Variation | 4.c3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 e5 | White slightly better +0.40 | Play |
| Main Line | 4.Ngf3 Nf6 | White slightly better +0.67 | Play |
| Haberditz Variation | 3...f5 | White slightly better +0.93 | Play |
| Modern System | 3...a6 | White slightly better +0.49 | Play |
| Morozevich Variation | 3...Be7 | White slightly better +0.44 | Play |
| Closed Variation | 3...Nf6 | White slightly better +0.58 | Play |
| Botvinnik Variation | 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 b6 | White clearly better +1.04 | Play |
| After 6...Nc6 | 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 | White slightly better +0.46 | Play |
| Main Line | 7.Ne2 cxd4 8.cxd4 | White slightly better +0.32 | Play |
| Leningrad Variation | 8...Nb6 | White clearly better +1.04 | Play |
| Pawn Center Variation | 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 | White slightly better +0.56 | Play |
| Open System | 3...c5 | Level +0.29 | Play |
| Chistyakov Defense | 4.exd5 Qxd5 | Level +0.26 | Play |
| Modern Line | 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Nb3 Nc6 9.Nbxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 a6 | White slightly better +0.35 | Play |
| Eliskases Variation | 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4 Qd8 | White slightly better +0.49 | Play |
| Euwe-Keres Line | 4.Ngf3 | Level +0.24 | Play |
| Shaposhnikov Gambit | 4.exd5 Nf6 | White slightly better +0.90 | Play |
| Süchting Line | 4.c3 | Level -0.22 | Play |
| After 4...exd5 | 4.exd5 exd5 | Level +0.21 | Play |
| Advance Line | 5.Ngf3 c4 | White slightly better +0.59 | Play |
| Main Line | 5.Ngf3 Nc6 | White slightly better +0.31 | Play |
| After 9.c3 | 6.Bb5 Bd6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.O-O Ne7 9.c3 | Level +0.29 | Play |
| Paulsen Variation | 3.Nc3 | White slightly better +0.36 | Play |
| Hecht-Reefschläger Variation | 3...Nc6 | White slightly better +0.73 | Play |
| Marshall Gambit | 3...c5 | White clearly better +1.17 | Play |
| Rubinstein Variation | 3...dxe4 | White slightly better +0.61 | Play |
| Blackburne Defense | 4.Nxe4 Nd7 | White slightly better +0.49 | Play |
| Capablanca Line | 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Ne5 | White slightly better +0.30 | Play |
| Kasparov Attack | 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.c3 | White slightly better +0.52 | Play |
| Ellis Gambit | 4.Nxe4 e5 | White clearly better +1.36 | Play |
| Fort Knox Variation | 4.Nxe4 Bd7 5.Nf3 Bc6 | White slightly better +0.66 | Play |
| Maric Variation | 4.Nxe4 Qd5 | White slightly better +0.70 | Play |
| Classical Variation | 3...Nf6 | White slightly better +0.38 | Play |
| Delayed Exchange Variation | 4.exd5 | Level -0.02 | Play |
| Exchange Variation, Svenonius Variation | 4...exd5 5.Bg5 | Level -0.17 | Play |
| Bogoljubow Variation | 5...Nc6 | Level +0.16 | Play |
| Steinitz Variation | 4.e5 | White slightly better +0.33 | Play |
| Shirov-Anand Variation | 4...Nfd7 5.Nce2 | Level +0.13 | Play |
| Steinitz Variation | 4...Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.dxc5 Nc6 | Level -0.08 | Play |
| Brodsky-Jones Variation | 7.a3 Bxc5 8.Qg4 O-O 9.Nf3 f6 | White slightly better +0.57 | Play |
| Steinitz Variation | 4...Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 | White slightly better +0.42 | Play |
| Boleslavsky Variation | 6...Nc6 7.Be3 | White slightly better +0.41 | Play |
| Steinitz Variation, Bradford Attack Variation | 4...Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.Qg4 | Level +0.21 | Play |
| Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack | 4...Nfd7 5.Qg4 | Black slightly better -0.34 | Play |
| Swiss Variation | 4.Bd3 | Level -0.17 | Play |
| Henneberger Variation | 4.Be3 | Black slightly better -0.71 | Play |
| 4. Bg5 | 4.Bg5 | White slightly better +0.32 | Play |
| McCutcheon Variation | 4...Bb4 | White slightly better +0.44 | Play |
| Advance Variation | 5.e5 | White slightly better +0.40 | Play |
| Bernstein Variation | 5...h6 6.Bh4 | Level -0.10 | Play |
| Chigorin Variation | 5...h6 6.exf6 | White slightly better +0.41 | Play |
| Grigoriev Variation | 6...hxg5 7.fxg7 Rg8 8.h4 gxh4 9.Qg4 | Level +0.22 | Play |
| Dr. Olland Variation | 5...h6 6.Bc1 | White slightly better +0.34 | Play |
| Janowski Variation | 5...h6 6.Be3 | White slightly better +0.36 | Play |
| Lasker Variation | 5...h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 | White slightly better +0.51 | Play |
| Duras Variation | 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Qg4 Kf8 9.Bc1 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| After 8...g6 | 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Qg4 g6 | White slightly better +0.43 | Play |
| Tartakower Variation | 5...h6 6.Bd2 Nfd7 | White slightly better +0.85 | Play |
| Exchange Variation | 5.exd5 | Level -0.03 | Play |
| Bogoljubow Variation | 5...Qxd5 6.Bxf6 gxf6 7.Qd2 Qa5 | Level +0.28 | Play |
| Burn Variation | 4...dxe4 | White slightly better +0.30 | Play |
| After 5...Be7 | 5.Nxe4 Be7 | White slightly better +0.35 | Play |
| Burn Variation, Main Line | 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.Nf3 O-O | White slightly better +0.30 | Play |
| Burn Variation, Morozevich Line | 6.Bxf6 gxf6 | White slightly better +0.36 | Play |
| Normal Variation | 4...Be7 | White slightly better +0.46 | Play |
| Alekhine-Chatard Attack | 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4 | White slightly better +0.51 | Play |
| Albin-Chatard Gambit | 6...Bxg5 7.hxg5 Qxg5 | White slightly better +0.59 | Play |
| Breyer Variation | 6...c5 | White slightly better +0.83 | Play |
| Maróczy Variation | 6...a6 | White slightly better +0.94 | Play |
| Spielmann Variation | 6...O-O | White clearly better +1.22 | Play |
| Teichmann Variation | 6...f6 | White clearly better +1.08 | Play |
| Richter Attack | 5.Bxf6 | Level -0.10 | Play |
| After 7.Qg4 | 5...Bxf6 6.e5 Be7 7.Qg4 | Black slightly better -0.63 | Play |
| Tartakower Variation | 5.e5 Ne4 | White slightly better +0.83 | Play |
| Vistaneckis Variation | 5.e5 Ng8 | White slightly better +0.82 | Play |
| Frankfurt Variation | 6.Be3 b6 | White slightly better +0.92 | Play |
| After 6...Qxe7 | 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 | White slightly better +0.43 | Play |
| Alapin Variation | 7.Nb5 | Level +0.19 | Play |
| Pollock Variation | 7.Qg4 | Level -0.03 | Play |
| Rubinstein Variation | 7.Qd2 | White slightly better +0.40 | Play |
| Steinitz Variation | 7.f4 | White slightly better +0.41 | Play |
| Stahlberg Variation | 7...O-O 8.Nf3 c5 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.O-O-O c4 | White slightly better +0.63 | Play |
| Tarrasch Variation | 7.Bd3 | Level +0.23 | Play |
| Steinitz Variation | 3...a6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7 | White slightly better +0.43 | Play |
| After 6.a3 | Level -0.05 | Play | |
| After 6.Ne2 | White slightly better +0.52 | Play | |
| Classical Variation | 6.Bg5 | Level +0.28 | Play |
| Winawer Variation | 3...Bb4 | White slightly better +0.60 | Play |
| Alekhine-Maróczy Gambit | 4.Ne2 | Level +0.18 | Play |
| McCutcheon Variation, Wolf Gambit | 4...Nf6 5.Bg5 | Level +0.14 | Play |
| Alekhine Gambit Accepted | 4...dxe4 5.a3 Bxc3+ | Level +0.20 | Play |
| Alekhine Gambit, Kan Variation | 6.Nxc3 Nc6 | Level +0.21 | Play |
| Alekhine Gambit, Alatortsev Variation | 4...dxe4 5.a3 Be7 6.Nxe4 Nf6 7.N2g3 O-O 8.Be2 Nc6 | Level +0.20 | Play |
| Delayed Exchange Variation | 4.exd5 | Level +0.13 | Play |
| Exchange Variation, Canal Attack | 4...exd5 5.Bd3 Ne7 6.Qh5 | Level +0.16 | Play |
| Fingerslip Variation | 4.Bd2 | Level -0.02 | Play |
| Kunin Double Gambit | 4...dxe4 5.Qg4 Qxd4 | White slightly better +0.37 | Play |
| Main Line | 4...dxe4 5.Qg4 Nf6 6.Qxg7 Rg8 7.Qh6 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Schwarz's Line | 4...Ne7 5.Nb1 | Level -0.14 | Play |
| Kondratiyev Variation | 4.Bd3 c5 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Bd2 | Level +0.09 | Play |
| Winckelmann-Reimer Gambit | 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 dxe4 6.f3 | Black slightly better -0.89 | Play |
| Advance Variation | 4.e5 | White slightly better +0.64 | Play |
| Petrosian Variation | 4...Qd7 | White clearly better +1.09 | Play |
| After 4...c5 | White slightly better +0.68 | Play | |
| After 5.a3 | White slightly better +0.60 | Play | |
| Maróczy-Wallis Variation | 5...cxd4 6.axb4 dxc3 | White clearly better +1.09 | Play |
| Advance Variation | 7.Nf3 | White slightly better +0.69 | Play |
| Retreat Variation | 5...Ba5 | White slightly better +0.60 | Play |
| Armenian Line | 6.b4 cxd4 | White slightly better +0.88 | Play |
| After 6.bxc3 | 5...Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 | White slightly better +0.57 | Play |
| After 6...Ne7 | White slightly better +0.69 | Play | |
| With Bd3 | 7.Bd3 | Level +0.28 | Play |
| After 7...Qc7 | White slightly better +0.50 | Play | |
| Positional Variation | 7...Nbc6 8.Nf3 | Level +0.12 | Play |
| With h4 | 7.h4 | White slightly better +0.45 | Play |
| After 7...Qc7 | White slightly better +0.63 | Play | |
| Eingorn Variation | 7.Qg4 Kf8 | White slightly better +0.75 | Play |
| Poisoned Pawn Variation | 7.Qg4 Qc7 | White slightly better +0.56 | Play |
| Poisoned Pawn Variation Declined | 8.Bd3 | White slightly better +0.35 | Play |
| Main Line | 8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7 cxd4 10.Ne2 | White slightly better +0.66 | Play |
| Paoli Variation | 8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7 cxd4 10.Kd1 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Poisoned Pawn Variation | 7.Qg4 cxd4 8.Qxg7 | White slightly better +0.49 | Play |
| After 9...Nbc6 | 8...Rg8 9.Qxh7 Nbc6 | White slightly better +0.99 | Play |
| Warsaw Variation | 7.Qg4 O-O | White slightly better +0.59 | Play |
| Smyslov Variation | 7.a4 | White slightly better +0.43 | Play |
| After 7...Qc7 | White slightly better +0.53 | Play | |
| Positional Variation | 7...Nbc6 8.Nf3 | White slightly better +0.46 | Play |
| After 9.Qd2 | 8...Qa5 9.Qd2 | Level +0.25 | Play |
| After 9...Bd7 | White slightly better +0.34 | Play | |
| After 9.Bd2 | 8...Qa5 9.Bd2 | White slightly better +0.37 | Play |
| After 9...Bd7 | White slightly better +0.41 | Play | |
| After 9...c4 | White slightly better +0.76 | Play | |
| Positional Variation | 7.Nf3 | White slightly better +0.35 | Play |
| After 7...Qc7 | White slightly better +0.57 | Play | |
| After 8.h4 | White slightly better +0.32 | Play | |
| Classical Variation | 6...Qc7 | White slightly better +0.71 | Play |
| Portisch-Hook Variation | 6...Qa5 | White slightly better +0.76 | Play |
| Positional Variation | 6...Nc6 7.Nf3 Nge7 | White slightly better +0.48 | Play |
| Positional Variation | 6...Nc6 7.Nf3 Qa5 8.Bd2 Nge7 | White slightly better +0.50 | Play |
| Moscow Variation | 5.Qg4 | Level 0.00 | Play |
| Bogoljubow Variation | 5.Bd2 | White slightly better +0.44 | Play |
| Icelandic Defense | 5...Ne7 6.f4 | Level -0.28 | Play |
| Baeuerle Gambit | 2...b5 | White clearly better +1.60 | Play |
| Franco-Hiva Gambit | 2...f5 | White clearly better +1.30 | Play |
| Franco-Hiva Gambit Accepted | 3.exf5 | White clearly better +1.34 | Play |
| Franco-Sicilian Defense | 2...c5 | White slightly better +0.66 | Play |
| Mediterranean Defense | 2...Nf6 | White slightly better +0.96 | Play |
| St. George Defense | 2...a6 | White slightly better +0.58 | Play |
| Three Pawn Attack | 3.c4 | White slightly better +0.34 | Play |
| Sanky-George Gambit | 3...b5 | White slightly better +0.82 | Play |
| St. George Gambit | 4.cxb5 axb5 | White slightly better +0.82 | Play |
| Traditional Line | 3.Nf3 b5 4.Bd3 c5 5.c3 Bb7 6.O-O Nf6 | White slightly better +0.94 | Play |
Queen's Knight: 2.Nc3
Level +0.26
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelikan Variation | 2...d5 3.f4 | Level -0.09 | Play |
Réti-Spielmann Attack: 2.g3
Level -0.07
Play this lineSteiner Variation: 2.c4
Level -0.10
Play this line| Line | Moves | Engine check (+ favours White) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orthoschnapp Gambit | 2...d5 3.cxd5 exd5 4.Qb3 | Black slightly better -0.73 | Play |
Steinitz Attack: 2.e5
Level -0.23
Play this line