Tree path 9 levels French Defense › Normal Variation › French Defense › Paulsen Variation › French Defense: Classical Variation › French Defense: Classical Variation › Normal Variation › French Defense: Classical Variation › Pollock Variation
C14

French Defense: Classical Variation, Pollock Variation

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Overview

French Defense: Classical Variation, Pollock Variation is a named branch in the Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO C14.

The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.

Play reaches this position via 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Qg4, after 13 plies of opening development.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from French Defense: Classical Variation, part of the broader French Defense system.

Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.

ECO code
C14
Group
Open Games (C)
Plies
13
Parent
French Defense: Classical Variation

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

84,615 games · White 53.5% / Draw 4.5% / Black 42.0%

MovesGamesW / D / B
O-O57,689
g610,517
f57,270
Kf82,535
f62,060
a61,946
c51,478
Rg8573

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:48:21

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