Library/Openings/French Defense/Classical Variation/Alapin Variation ECO C14
Opening· 13 plies

French Defense: Classical Variation, Alapin Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C14), reached after 13 half-moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Nb5.

French Defense: Classical Variation, Alapin Variation ECO C14
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Black rook
Black knight
Black bishop
Black king
Black rook
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black knight
Black queen
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
White knight
Black pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White rook
White queen
White king
White bishop
White knight
White rook
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End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

French Defense: Classical Variation, Alapin Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C14. ECO group C (C00–C99) covers open games (1.e4 e5) and the French Defence, including the Ruy Lopez, Italian, Scotch and King's Gambit. This particular variation is reached after 13 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Nb5.

It belongs to the French Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Classical Variation → Alapin Variation line). The immediate parent line is French Defense: Classical Variation, transitioned via 7.Nb5.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e6, 2.d4 d5, 3.Nc3 Nf6, 4.Bg5 Be7, 5.e5 Nfd7, 6.Bxe7 Qxe7. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.