Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation

The La Bourdonnais Variation is 2.f4, a King's Gambit-style pawn thrust against the French. White aims for e5 and kingside space, while Black hits e4 with ...d5, claims the center with ...c5 and points at the loose e1-h4 diagonal.

Moves
1.e4 e6 2.f4
ECO
C00
Engine
−0.26 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
10,217 games in our lichess sample
White scores
49.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Push e5 after ...d5 to clamp the kingside, then develop Nf3, d4 or d3 behind the pawns.
  • Against ...d5 the engine likes Nc3 and Nce2 after ...d4, rerouting the knight to g3 or f4.
  • A bishop check on b5 slows Black's queenside development, as in the second engine line.
  • Mind the e1-h4 diagonal: g3 or Nf3 stops a queen check on h4.

Black

  • 2...d5 hits e4 right away; e4 is no longer protected by the f-pawn.
  • Push ...d4 to gain space and take c3 and e3 from White's pieces.
  • ...c5 and ...Nc6 give a Closed Sicilian feel with Black's e-pawn already on e6.
  • Bring a knight to f5 via h6, eyeing d4, e3 and g3.

Plans and pawn structure

White's f4 gives up the e1-h4 diagonal for kingside space. If White gets e5 in, Black plays ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...Nh6-f5 for central pressure, while White builds with Nf3, d3 and a bishop to e2 or b5. If Black pushes ...d4, White reroutes the c3 knight and plays a King's Indian setup with d3 and g3. Black's goal is to strike the center before White's king feels safe.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.26: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.26 2...d5 3.Nc3 d4 4.Nce2 c5 5.Nf3
  2. −0.15 2...c5 3.Nf3 d5 4.Bb5+ Nd7 5.e5
  3. −0.12 2...Nh6 3.Nf3 c5 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Bb5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

10,217 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.6%.

under 120047.0%
1200–159950.2%
1600–199949.9%
2000 and up47.9%

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

Where it goes next

  • La Bourdonnais Variation, Reuter Gambit2...d5 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, play 2...d5 and answer Nc3 with ...d4. Develop with ...c5 and ...Nc6 and watch for queen checks on h4 if White forgets the diagonal. Avoid locking your c8 bishop in completely after e5; plan ...Nh6-f5 and ...b6 to keep pieces active.

Questions

What are the moves of the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation?

The French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation starts 1.e4 e6 2.f4. Its ECO code is C00.

Is the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.26 at depth 20, which is level. In 10,217 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.6%. A sharp choice for attacking White players who want to avoid theory, but it loosens the king and Black equalizes easily.

What is the main idea of the French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation?

White plays f4 early to grab space and support e5. Black hits the center with ...d5 and ...c5 and uses the loosened e1-h4 diagonal.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is d5, with c5 and Nh6 close behind. 2...d5 attacks e4, which the f-pawn can no longer defend, and forces White to decide on the center.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.