French Defense: Classical Variation, Alapin Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
49,159 games: White 56.5% / Draw 5.1% / Black 38.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 18,32918K | ||
| 12,08912K | ||
| 10,94611K | ||
| 2,9592,959 | ||
| 2,3952,395 | ||
| 938938 | ||
| 789789 | ||
| 478478 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.05 The position is about equal
Best play: 7... Nb6 8. f4 a6 9. Nc3 Qb4 10. Rb1 Nc6 11. Nf3 Na4 12. Qd2
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
French Defense: Classical Variation, Alapin Variation (ECO C14, Open Games) is a variation of the French Defense: Classical Variation, reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Nb5 (7 moves).
In 49,159 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 56.5%, Black 38.4% and 5.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…Nb6, in 37% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the French Defense: Classical Variation, Alapin Variation
The most played answer, 7…Nb6, also scores best for Black: 46.3%, with Black winning 43.2% and White 50.6% of 18K games. Of the main answers, 7…Na6 scores lowest: 37.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 7…Nb6.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “French Defense: Classical Variation, Alapin Variation (C14)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-classical-variation-alapin-variation