French defence

The French Defence with 2.Nf3 arises after 1.e4 e6 2.Nf3. ECO code: C00.

White develops the knight before committing to d4. After 2...d5, 3.d4 transposes into the main lines. White can also play 3.Nc3, 3.e5, or 3.d3 (King's Indian Attack). The move order is flexible and can avoid certain Black systems.