Tree path 7 levels French Defense › Normal Variation › French Defense › Paulsen Variation › French Defense: Classical Variation › Steinitz Variation › French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation
C11

French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation

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Overview

Chess diagram: French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation after 5. Nce2
After 5. Nce2

French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation (ECO C11) is a variation of French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation, reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Nce2 — 5 moves.

In 473,730 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.4%, Black 44.9% and 4.8% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…c5, in 92% of those games.

ECO code
C11
Group
Open Games (C)
Length
5 moves
Parent
French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation

Generated from the data: the Lichess opening list and opening explorer. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

473,730 games · White 50.4% / Draw 4.8% / Black 44.9%

MovesGamesW / D / B
c5433,733
a612,097
Be711,448
f64,000
b63,715
f51,780
Nb61,655
Nc61,589

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:01:15

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