Sicilian Defense: French Variation

ECO B40beginner

The French Variation of the Sicilian starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6, and its point is flexibility: Black supports a later ...d5 and has not yet committed a knight or the d-pawn, so White cannot aim a setup at a fixed target. In the line shown here White replies 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6, building a broad centre while Black chips at it. It is a favourite of players who want Sicilian counterplay without memorising the Najdorf.

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Main line

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6 7.Bc4 Nc6

Diagram shows the position after 6 half-moves of the main line. On SpeakChess you can drill this line move by move — the trainer plays the other side and corrects you instantly, then spaced repetition schedules each variation so you review it right before you would forget it.

Move by move

The first 12 moves of the main line, explained one at a time. Every move of every variation is annotated like this inside the trainer — this page shows the opening moves so you can judge the explanations before signing up.

1.e4 White marches the king's pawn two squares to e4, a light square right in the middle of the board. This is a strong, classic first move that grabs space and opens lines for your pieces to come out later.
1...c5 Black plays c5, advancing the pawn two squares from its starting square. This is the Sicilian Defense, a standard response that indirectly challenges White's center.
2.Nf3 White moves their knight from g1 to f3. This is a good developing move that helps get your pieces into the game.
2...e6 Black answers by nudging the pawn to e6, a tidy little step that opens a path for the dark-squared bishop on f8. It is a calm, solid way to build up before the bigger fight begins.
3.c3 White advances the pawn from c2 to c3. This move reinforces the center, preparing to support a future advance of the d4 pawn.
3...Nf6 Black moves their knight from g8 to f6. This is a good developing move, bringing a piece into the game.
4.e5 You move your pawn from e4 to e5. This is a strong push! It helps you control more of the middle of the board.
4...Nd5 Black moves their knight from f6 to d5. This is a great move because the knight now stands on a strong square in the middle of the board.
5.d4 White pushes the pawn to d4, a dark square in the heart of the board. Standing beside the pawn on e5, it claims good central space and helps White take charge of the middle early on.
5...cxd4 Black's pawn captures a pawn on d4, opening the c-file and increasing Black's central control.
6.cxd4 The pawn slides from c3 over to d4, scooping up a piece there. Now White has pawns on d4 and e5 holding firm in the center, a nice wall of strength right where it matters most.
6...d6 Black moves a pawn from d7 to d6. This opens a path for the bishop and queen to join the game. Good move!

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Win rates by rating

Results from real online games, measured after the line shown in each row. Most opening sites show one aggregate number — how an opening scores depends heavily on who is playing it.

Rating	Games	White wins	Draws	Black wins	Position after
400-600	66	56.1%	7.6%	36.4%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6
600-800	69	42%	0%	58%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6
800-1000	39	46.2%	2.6%	51.3%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6
1000-1200	27	51.9%	3.7%	44.4%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6
1200-1400	930	48.2%	3.1%	48.7%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6
1400-1600	3,109	47%	3.7%	49.2%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6
1600-1800	805	46.2%	5.1%	48.7%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6
1800-2000	1,747	45%	5.8%	49.1%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6
2000-2200	2,457	43.3%	6.3%	50.3%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6
2200-2400	1,995	46.9%	7.4%	45.7%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6

Most played continuations (1400-1600 rating)

After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6:

Nc3 — played 33.6% of the time (White wins 48.3%, draws 4.2%, Black wins 47.5%)
Bc4 — played 23.3% of the time (White wins 47.2%, draws 3.3%, Black wins 49.5%)
Bb5+ — played 16.6% of the time (White wins 46.3%, draws 4.5%, Black wins 49.2%)

Related openings

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called the French Variation of the Sicilian?

Because ...e6 gives Black a pawn structure that often looks like the French Defense, and games can transpose there outright if White plays d4 and Black answers ...d5. The difference is that Black has already committed to ...c5, so the freeing break the French player spends several moves preparing has effectively been played on move one.

What should Black know before playing 2...e6?

That it is a family, not a single line. White can steer into the Open Sicilian with 3.d4, the Alapin structure with 3.c3, or quieter d3 systems. Black's setups usually revolve around ...d5 in one go, ...Nf6 hitting e4, and developing the dark-squared bishop actively. Knowing one plan against each White third move is enough to play it comfortably.

Is the Sicilian French good for beginners?

It is one of the more forgiving Sicilians. Black's early moves are natural developing moves rather than committal pawn grabs, and there is no equivalent of the Najdorf's forcing attacking lines to walk into. The trade-off is that Black's counterplay arrives more slowly, so patience matters more than tactics in the first fifteen moves.