Openings Other answers to 1.e4
French Defense: Advance, Exchange, Winawer and Stats by Rating
1...e6 and 2...d5 challenge White’s center with a pawn chain. Black gets a solid position but a passive light-squared bishop. The plan is always the same: attack the base of White’s chain with ...c5 and ...f6.
C00French Defense
Games from this position (1600–1999): 169k
- 1.
- 2.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34% | 57k | ||
| 34% | 57k | ||
| 20% | 34k | ||
| 8% | 13k | ||
| 2% | 4,074 | ||
| 0.7% | 1,131 | ||
| 0.5% | 875 | ||
| 0.4% | 721 | ||
| 0.3% | 586 |
Plans for both sides
White
- 3.e5 (Advance) gains space; support e5 with c3, Nf3 and d4.
- 3.Nc3 and 3.Nd2 keep tension and lead to the main lines (Winawer, Classical, Tarrasch).
- Attack on the kingside, where your space is; Black’s pieces have little room there.
Black
- Hit d4 with ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...Qb6 in the Advance.
- The ...f6 break attacks e5 from the other side.
- Find a job for the c8 bishop: ...b6 and ...Ba6, or ...Bd7–e8–h5.
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French Defense at each rating
How often the position after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 27k0.9% | 3.e551% | |
| 1200–1599 | 96k1.6% | 3.e550% | |
| 1600–1999 | 169k2.6% | 3.e534% | |
| 2000+ | 83k4.1% | 3.Nc332% | |
| All | 376k2.2% | 3.e537% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
Black piles up on d4. White defends with Be2, O-O and Na3–c2, or plays a3 and b4.
29k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 47%, 4% were drawn, Black won 49%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6Symmetrical and open. The bishop problem disappears; the game is about piece activity.
106k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 5% were drawn, Black won 47%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5Black pins the knight and often gives the bishop for it, doubling White’s pawns. Very sharp.
19k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 5% were drawn, Black won 45%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4The knight on d2 avoids the Winawer pin. Black answers ...c5 or ...Nf6.
30k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 6% were drawn, Black won 44%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2Black develops normally; White pins the knight and pushes e5.
12k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 6% were drawn, Black won 44%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5
Common traps
Advance: 8...Qxd4?? 9.Bb5+
In the Advance with 6.Bd3, the d4 pawn looks free. After 7...Nxd4 8.Nxd4 Qxd4?? 9.Bb5+ is a discovered attack: Black blocks the check and White’s queen on d1 takes the queen on d4.
Fewer than 6 games in our data reached the end of this line.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nxd4 8.Nxd4 Qxd4 9.Bb5+Advertisement
At club level
The Advance Variation is the most common at club level because it is simple for White. As Black, ...c5, ...Nc6, ...Qb6 and ...Bd7 cover most games, but beware the classic queen trap below.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- Scandinavian Defense
1.e4 d5
- Caro-Kann Defense
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5
- Owen Defense
1.e4 b6
- Nimzowitsch Defense
1.e4 Nc6
- Alekhine Defense
1.e4 Nf6
- Modern Defense
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7