French Defense: Classical Variation, Vistaneckis Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C13), reached after 10 half-moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Ng8.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black knight — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

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, Vistaneckis Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C13. 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 10 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Ng8.

It belongs to the French Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Classical Variation → Vistaneckis Variation line). The immediate parent line is French Defense: Classical Variation, transitioned via 5…Ng8.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e6, 2.d4 d5, 3.Nc3 Nf6, 4.Bg5 Be7, 5.e5 Ng8. 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.