Library/Openings/French Defense/Classical Variation/Burn Variation/Main Line ECO C11
Opening· 14 plies

French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C11), reached after 14 half-moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O.

French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line ECO C11
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Black rook
Black knight
Black bishop
Black queen
Black rook
Black king
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black bishop
White pawn
White knight
White knight
White pawn
White pawn
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White pawn
White pawn
White rook
White queen
White king
White bishop
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, Burn Variation, Main Line is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C11. 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 14 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O.

It belongs to the French Defense family. Within that family this is a level-3 branch (the Classical Variation → Burn Variation → Main Line line). The immediate parent line is French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, transitioned via 7…O-O.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e6, 2.d4 d5, 3.Nc3 Nf6, 4.Bg5 dxe4, 5.Nxe4 Be7, 6.Bxf6 Bxf6. 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.