Nimzowitsch Defense: French Connection
The French Connection of the Nimzowitsch Defense is 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nc3 e6, where Black prepares ...d5 against a knight that already guards e4. White takes the center with d4 or develops with Nf3, while Black can pin the c3 knight with ...Bb4.
- Moves
- 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nc3 e6
- ECO
- B00
- Engine
- +0.65 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 595 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 49.6%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Play 3.d4 and meet ...Bb4 with Qd3, as in the top engine line, so the queen guards the e4 pawn.
- After ...Ba5, continue with Ne2 and a3 to support the center and push the bishop away from the pin.
- Develop with Nf3 and push e5 against ...d5, as in the second engine line, for a French chain.
- Answer ...Ne4 with Ne2, keeping your pawns healthy and asking the e4 knight to find a safe square.
Black
- Pin the c3 knight with ...Bb4 so that the e4 pawn loses one of its defenders.
- Play ...d5 soon to challenge e4 directly while White's pieces are still on their first squares.
- Develop with ...Nge7, as in the engine line, so the king's knight supports d5 and can jump to f5.
- After e5 by White, use ...Ne4 and ...f6, the second engine line's plan, to fight the chain at once.
Plans and pawn structure
The c3 knight makes this different from the Nf3 lines. Black uses ...Bb4 to pin it and pressure e4, then plays ...d5 to fight the center. White answers with d4 and Qd3, keeping e4 covered, and later a3 to ask the bishop to choose. If Black trades on c3, White gets the bishop pair but damaged queenside pawns. If White closes the center with e5, Black uses ...Ne4 and ...f6 to hit the chain from both sides.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.65: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.65 3.d4 Bb4 4.Qd3 Ba5 5.Ne2 Nge7
- +0.61 3.Nf3 d5 4.d4 Nf6 5.e5 Ne4
- +0.21 3.h3 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.d4 Bb4
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
595 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.6%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
White, play 3.d4 and protect e4 with Qd3, then use Ne2 and a3 to free the c3 knight from the pin. Avoid allowing ...Bxc3 with doubled pawns unless you get the bishop pair for a reason. Black, use the pin and play ...d5 before White completes development.
Questions
What are the moves of the Nimzowitsch Defense: French Connection?
The Nimzowitsch Defense: French Connection starts 1.e4 Nc6 2.Nc3 e6. Its ECO code is B00.
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: French Connection good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.65 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 595 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.6%. A playable line for Black players who like French structures and pins, but White keeps a space edge with accurate play.
What is the main idea of the Nimzowitsch Defense: French Connection?
Black uses ...e6 and ...Bb4 to pin the c3 knight and fight for e4 with ...d5. White takes space with d4, guards e4 with Qd3 and frees the knight with a3 and Ne2.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is d4, with Nf3 and h3 close behind. 3.d4 takes the center and prepares Qd3 against the coming ...Bb4 pin.
Related lines
- Nimzowitsch Defense
- Kennedy Variation
- Scandinavian Variation
- Declined Variation
- Franco-Nimzowitsch Variation
- Williams Variation
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.