Chess Openings Lab
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French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation

The Shirov-Anand Variation is the Steinitz French line with 5.Nce2, rerouting the c3 knight after 4.e5 Nfd7. White frees the c-pawn to back up d4 with c3 and f4, while Black attacks the pawn chain with ...c5 and ...Nc6.

Moves
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nce2
ECO
C11
Engine
+0.20 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
489 games in our lichess sample
White scores
50.5%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Push f4 and c3 to build a wide center, exactly as the top engine line does with f4, c3 and Nf3.
  • Bring the e2 knight to f4, where it eyes e6 and d5 and supports a later kingside push.
  • The h4 advance in the engine line gains kingside space and prepares h5 against Black's king.
  • Against an early queenside expansion, a3 and Be3 keep d4 solid and take squares from Black's pieces.

Black

  • Hit the base of the chain with ...c5 right away, then ...Nc6 to pile on d4.
  • A queen on b6 or a5 adds pressure, especially if White's dark bishop leaves c1.
  • Expand with ...b5 and ...a5 while White spends time on the kingside, as the third engine line shows.
  • Keep ...f6 in reserve to undermine e5 once White commits to f4.

Plans and pawn structure

The pawn chain d4-e5 against d5-e6 decides the plans. White gains space with c3, f4 and Nf3, keeps d4 rock solid and then expands on the kingside with h4 or f5. Black attacks the chain at its base with ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...Qb6, and may grab queenside space with ...b5. Because White's knight left c3, Black has no pin with ...Bb4 and no target on c3, so the queenside play is slower but White's center is sturdier.

Where the engine's main line heads: French chain: d4–e5 against d5–e6. The French chain: White's pawns on d4 and e5 face Black's on d5 and e6. White has kingside space, Black attacks the base of the chain.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.20: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.20 5...c5 6.f4 Nc6 7.c3 Be7 8.Nf3
  2. +0.34 5...Be7 6.a3 c5 7.c3 Nc6 8.Be3
  3. +0.43 5...b5 6.Nf3 c5 7.c3 Nc6 8.Nf4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

489 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.5%.

1600–199954.6%
2000 and up48.2%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As Black, play 5...c5 at once and follow with ...Nc6. Do not let White finish c3, f4 and Nf3 for free, because that center becomes hard to break. If White castles short, ...f6 becomes a good second break. Avoid slow moves like ...a6 before your knights are developed.

Questions

What are the moves of the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation?

The French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation starts 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nce2. Its ECO code is C11.

Is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.20 at depth 20, which is level. In 489 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.5%. Good for White players who like big pawn centers and slow buildup, but it costs tempo and gives Black time for queenside play.

What is the main idea of the French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation?

White reroutes the c3 knight to e2 so that c3 and f4 can support the d4-e5 chain. Black hits the base of that chain with ...c5 and the queenside pieces.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is c5, with Be7 and b5 close behind. 5...c5 strikes the d4 pawn immediately, before White can lock it in with c3 and f4.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.