French Defense: Paulsen Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3

ECO C10

The French Defense: Paulsen Variation is a chess opening line in the French Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3.

It is catalogued under code C10 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Nc3 is chosen by White on move 3.

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.