French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.Nf3 O-O

ECO C11

The French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line is a chess opening line in the French Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.Nf3 O-O.

It is catalogued under code C11 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move O-O is chosen by Black on move 7.

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Beat the French with 3.Nc3 course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.