French Defense: Queen's Knight
The Queen's Knight is 2.Nc3, developing the knight and defending e4 before White commits the d-pawn. White can transpose to the main lines with d4 or try f4, while Black chooses between ...d5, ...Nf6 and a Sicilian-style ...c5.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e6 2.Nc3
- ECO
- C00
- Engine
- +0.33 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 7,263 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 50.8%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Play d4 next to reach the main French lines; after ...Nf6 or ...d5, Bg5 pins the knight.
- Against ...c5, play Nf3 and d4 for an Open Sicilian, as in the second engine line.
- f4 after ...d5 leads to the Pelikan, with kingside space and e5 ideas.
- Keep the option of d3 and g3 if you want a closed, slower game.
Black
- 2...d5 or 2...Nf6 both transpose to normal French lines once White plays d4.
- 2...c5 heads for Sicilian positions with ...Nc6 and an exchange on d4.
- Against the Bg5 pin, the trade on e4 and ...Nbd7 give Black a solid setup.
- If White avoids d4, push ...d4 to gain space against the c3 knight.
Plans and pawn structure
2.Nc3 is a move-order tool. With d4 next, the game becomes a Classical or Rubinstein French, and the plans revolve around the Bg5 pin, e5 and Black's ...c5 break. With Nf3 and d4 against ...c5, the game becomes an Open Sicilian where White develops quickly with Bf4 or Be3. If White plays f4 or d3 instead, Black gains space with ...d4.
Where the engine's main line heads: White pawn d4, no e-pawns for White, no d-pawn for Black. White has a pawn on d4 and no e-pawn; Black has no d-pawn. White has more central space; Black's pieces are free and the d4 pawn is a target.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.33: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.33 2...Nf6 3.d4 d5 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4
- +0.37 2...c5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4
- +0.38 2...d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
7,263 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.8%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Pelikan Variation2...d5 · 571 games
- McCutcheon Variation, Duras Variation2...d5 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, the simplest replies are ...Nf6 or ...d5, which return to familiar French structures after d4. If White avoids d4, push ...d4 to kick the knight. 2...c5 is fine if you also play the Sicilian. Avoid lines that let White build e5 and f4 for free.
Questions
What are the moves of the French Defense: Queen's Knight?
The French Defense: Queen's Knight starts 1.e4 e6 2.Nc3. Its ECO code is C00.
Is the French Defense: Queen's Knight good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.33 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 7,263 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.8%. A flexible move-order choice for White players who want to steer toward familiar French or Sicilian structures.
What is the main idea of the French Defense: Queen's Knight?
White develops the queen's knight first and keeps options open. The line often transposes to main French lines after d4 or to the Open Sicilian after ...c5.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is Nf6, with c5 and d5 close behind. 2...Nf6 develops and keeps the option of ...d5, transposing to the Classical after d4.
Related lines
- French Defense
- Exchange Variation
- Advance Variation
- Knight Variation
- Normal Variation
- La Bourdonnais Variation
- How to beat the French Defenseguide
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.