Chess Openings Lab
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French Defense: Schlechter Variation

The Schlechter Variation is 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3, where White defends e4 with the bishop instead of a knight. Black wants to trade on e4 so the bishop gets hit by ...Nf6, then strike with ...c5, while White hopes for quick, simple development.

Moves
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3
ECO
C00
Engine
−0.20 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,800 games in our lichess sample
White scores
51.4%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After 3...dxe4 4.Bxe4 Nf6 retreat with 5.Bf3, keeping the bishop on the long diagonal and away from Black's knight.
  • Develop the king's knight to e2, not f3, so the f-pawn and the bishop on f3 stay free and c3 can support d4.
  • Play c3 to hold d4 against ...c5 and ...Nc6, as the main engine line does on move 7.
  • If Black answers 3...c5, trade on d5 and reach an open game where your bishop on d3 points at h7.

Black

  • Take on e4 with 3...dxe4. The bishop must recapture and then gets hit by ...Nf6, so you gain time.
  • Hit the center with ...c5 right away and follow with ...Nc6 to pile on the d4 pawn.
  • Your light-squared bishop is no longer locked in once the e4 pawn is gone. Look at ...b6 and the long diagonal later.
  • Against 3...c5 4.exd5 exd5 you get an open e-file and free development with ...Nf6 and ...Be7.

Plans and pawn structure

After the trade on e4, the center holds a lone White d4 pawn against Black's e6 pawn. White wants to keep d4 solid with c3 and Ne2, castle, and use the bishop on f3 against b7. Black wants to put pressure on d4 with ...c5 and ...Nc6 and develop the dark bishop to e7 or d6. If White ever has to play dxc5, Black's pieces become very active. The middlegame is open and calm, with chances for both sides.

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 −0.20: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.20 3...dxe4 4.Bxe4 Nf6 5.Bf3 c5 6.Ne2
  2. +0.10 3...c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.c3 Nf6 6.Nf3
  3. +0.39 3...Nc6 4.Nf3 dxe4 5.Bxe4 Nf6 6.Bg5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,800 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.4%.

under 120048.6%
1200–159949.8%
1600–199953.0%
2000 and up50.2%

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

How to play against it

As Black, take on e4 at once with 3...dxe4 and develop with tempo with ...Nf6. Then strike with ...c5. Avoid locking the center with slow moves like 3...Nc6, which lets White play Nf3 and later Bg5 with a comfortable game.

Questions

What are the moves of the French Defense: Schlechter Variation?

The French Defense: Schlechter Variation starts 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3. Its ECO code is C00.

Is the French Defense: Schlechter Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.20 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,800 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.4%. A low-theory way for White to avoid main French lines, but a Black player who knows 3...dxe4 and ...c5 has no problems.

What is the main idea of the French Defense: Schlechter Variation?

White defends e4 with the bishop. Black answers by trading on e4, hitting the bishop with ...Nf6 and then hitting d4 with ...c5, which gives easy equality.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is dxe4, with c5 and Nc6 close behind. 3...dxe4 makes the bishop recapture and walk into ...Nf6, so Black develops with gain of time.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.