Tree path 5 levels French Defense › Normal Variation › French Defense › Exchange Variation › French Defense: Exchange Variation
- Chess Codex
- French Defense C00
- Normal Variation C00
- French Defense C00
- Exchange Variation C01
- French Defense: Exchange Variation C01 you are here
French Defense: Exchange Variation
Overview
French Defense: Exchange Variation is a named branch in the Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO C01.
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. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3, after 7 plies of opening development.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from French Defense: Exchange 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
- C01
- Group
- Open Games (C)
- Plies
- 7
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
23,140,887 games · White 46.2% / Draw 5.9% / Black 47.8%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 11,917,130 | |
| Bd6 | 4,059,398 | |
| Bg4 | 1,487,507 | |
| c6 | 1,416,327 | |
| Nc6 | 1,384,150 | |
| c5 | 1,097,482 | |
| Be6 | 543,941 | |
| h6 | 366,243 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:36:06
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