C14 French Defense: Classical Variation
C14 holds eight named lines, all under the name French Defense. It leaves C11 (French Defense: Steinitz Variation) with 6.Bg5. Black, to move in that position, has 25 legal moves, the fewest of the 19 French Defense codes. White’s pieces and pawns attack 11 squares in Black’s half, the most of the 19 French Defense codes. White has three minor pieces off their first squares, level for the most of the 19 French Defense codes.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | e4 | e6 |
| 2 | d4 | d5 |
| 3 | Nc3 | a6 |
| 4 | Nf3 | Nf6 |
| 5 | e5 | Nfd7 |
| 6 | Bg5 |
Moves only C14 plays
Same as C10 up to 3.Nc3, then:
- 3...a6 The a-pawn advances to a6, covering b5, opening a line for the rook on a8.
- 4.Nf3 The knight leaves g1 for f3, opening a line for the rook on h1.
- 4...Nf6 The knight leaves g8 for f6, opening a line for the rook on h8.
- 5.e5 The e-pawn advances to e5, covering d6 and f6, attacking the knight on f6.
- 5...Nfd7 The knight goes from f6 to d7.
- 6.Bg5 The bishop leaves c1 for g5, opening a line for the rook on a1 and the queen on d1, attacking the queen on d8.
Lines filed under C14
All eight share the start 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 and then split two ways at Black’s move 3.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| French Defense: Classical Variation | 3...a6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bg5 | 11 | |
| French Defense: Classical Variation | 3...Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 | 12 | |
| French Defense: Classical Variation, Alapin Variation | 3...Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.Nb5 | 13 | |
| French Defense: Classical Variation, Pollock Variation | 3...Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.Qg4 | 13 | |
| French Defense: Classical Variation, Rubinstein Variation | 3...Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.Qd2 | 13 | |
| French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation | 3...Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.f4 | 13 | |
| French Defense: Classical Variation, Tarrasch Variation | 3...Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.Bd3 | 13 | |
| French Defense: Classical Variation, Stahlberg Variation | 3...Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.f4 O-O 8.Nf3 c5 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.O-O-O c4 | 20 | both castled |
The road to C14
- 1.e4 … 2...d5four earlier stops: B00, C00
- 3.Nc3C10 Paulsen Variation
- 5...Nfd7C11 Steinitz Variation
- 6.Bg5C14
The position after 6.Bg5
White has brought out the knight on c3, knight on f3 and bishop on g5; Black the knight on d7. Black could capture with Nxe5, Qxg5.
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| C12 | French Defense, Classical, 4. Bg5 | eight squares: g1, f3, e4, e5, a6, f6, a7, d7 |
| B95 | Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation | nine squares: f3, d4, e4, d5, e5, d6, f6, c7 … |
| C13 | French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation | nine squares: g1, f3, e4, d5, e5, a6, f6, a7 … |
| B43 | Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Knight Variation | ten squares: c1, f3, d4, e4, d5, e5, g5, c7 … |
| C02 | French Defense: Advance Variation | ten squares: b1, c1, g1, c3, f3, g5, a6, a7 … |
| C16 | French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation | ten squares: c1, g1, f3, b4, g5, a6, a7, d7 … |
| D01 | Richter-Veresov Attack | ten squares: g1, e2, f3, e5, a6, e6, f6, a7 … |