Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: French Variation
4/4
1.e4c52.Nf3e6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: French Variation34.4M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
55%18.8M49%
10%3.4M46%
8.9%3.1M49%
2.6%905k50%
1.4%485k48%
1.4%470k52%
1.2%403k47%
Famous games in this line115k master games
Carlsen, M. (2835) – Caruana, F. (2832)Carlsen, M. (2855) – Caruana, F. (2804)Carlsen, M. (2863) – Anand, V. (2792)Carlsen, M. (2863) – Anand, V. (2792)Carlsen, M. (2872) – Caruana, F. (2782)Kasparov, Garry (2838) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2802)Carlsen, M. (2853) – Firouzja, Alireza (2785)Nepomniachtchi, I. (2773) – Carlsen, M. (2865)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Caruana, F.
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B40
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Kramnik Variation3.c4Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit Deferred3.b4Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with e63.c3 · 2 deeper linesSicilian Defense: French Variation, Westerinen Attack3.b3
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
No reply to 1.e4 is played more. Fischer made the Najdorf his main weapon, and Kasparov's Sicilians are pillars of chess history — the Scheveningen against Karpov, the Dragon he unveiled against Anand in 1995. When you play 1...c5 you refuse symmetry, the same refusal that carried two world champions.
Study this opening