Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Open
Chess opening · ECO B40 · 6 half-moves
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4
The Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Open is reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4. It is White's move in the position shown.
It branches from the Sicilian Defense: French Variation with 3. d4 cxd4.
How often it is played
The Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Open and its variations appeared in 0.68% of games — 20,304 of 3,000,000 rated games sampled from Lichess in September 2026. That makes it number 72 of the openings listed here.
Results
White won 47%, 4.1% were drawn and Black won 49%. These are games between players of every strength and time control, so they say how the opening does in practice rather than how sound it is.
What the engine thinks
Stockfish, at depth 18, evaluates the position at +0.47 — a small edge for White. Positive numbers favour White; see reading the evaluation bar.
Similar openings
The most-played alternatives — what else could have been chosen around the move where this opening begins.
| Opening | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 | 2.1% |
| Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 | 1.2% |
| Sicilian Defense: Closed | 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 | 0.99% |
Main continuations
| Variation | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 | 0.34% |
| Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 | 0.15% |
| Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 | 0.08% |
| Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. c3 | 0.02% |
| Sicilian Defense: Paulsen-Basman Defense | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 | 0.02% |
| Sicilian Defense: Kveinis Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6 | 0.01% |
Check your own games
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