French Defense: Classical Variation, Stahlberg Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.f4 O-O 8.Nf3 c5 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.O-O-O c4

ECO C14

The French Defense: Classical Variation, Stahlberg Variation is a chess opening line in the French Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.f4 O-O 8.Nf3 c5 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.O-O-O c4.

It is catalogued under code C14 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move c4 is chosen by Black on move 10.

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.