Chess Openings·French Defence
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Semi-Open Game

French Defence

1.e4 e6

Step through

2 / 2
  1. 1.

Tap a move to jump to that position.

A sturdy set-up that waits for the opponent to overreach. Pawns lock into each other, the lines shut and the game runs long. Of the four central squares, pawns stand on e4. Nothing has been captured yet. Neither side has castled yet.

The position

Length
2 moves
To move
White
Legal replies
30
Minor pieces out
White 0 · Black 0
Material
level
Castling rights left
KQkq
FEN
rnbqkbnr/pppp1ppp/4p3/8/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 2

Move by move

Each move spelled out: which piece went from where to where.

  1. 1.e4White: Pawn e2e4
  2. 1e6Black: Pawn e7e6

Nearby lines

first 2 moves shared

Common questions

QWhat are the moves of French Defence?

1.e4 e6

QWhich family does it belong to?

Semi-Open Game — 1.e4 met by anything other than 1…e5.

QWho is to move next?

After 2 moves it is White to move.