Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...e6

French Sicilian
	a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h
	Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/pp1p1ppp/4p3/2p5/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R
	Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6
	ECO code: B40
	Parent: Sicilian defence → 2. Nf3

2...e6 · French Sicilian

Black opens up the a3-f8 diagonal for their dark squared bishop, while also controlling the d5 square for a second time. This prepares to play ...d5 and recapture with a pawn, gaining further central control.

Open the centre

3. d4 is the main move. This is the standard open Sicilian plan: 3...cxd4 4. Nxd4. The centre is open and both of White's bishops are ready to come into the game. Then Black has a choice of how to proceed: the main French Sicilians are the Kan, Paulsen, Taimanov, or four knights variations.

3. Nc3 is also possible. This postpones d4 while White waits for more information on which Sicilian Black will choose.

Anti-Sicilians

There is also a variety of "anti-Sicilians" (Sicilians that aren't the open Sicilian) available to White, avoiding the main line and aiming to exploit the fact that 2...e6 blocked Black's c8 bishop. Against 2...d6 or 2...Nc6, the main anti-Sicilian is 3. Bb5, but it is not so effective here following 2...e6. If White still wishes to avoid the open Sicilian, they might opt for one of the following instead.

3. c3 is the delayed Alapin Sicilian. The idea is to support playing d4 and keep the pawn there. While similar in character to the Alapin played on turn two (1. e4 c5 2. c3), playing c3 on the third move, after Black has committed a pawn to 2...e6, means Black has different options for how to proceed.

3. c4 is the Kramnik Sicilian, creating a "Maroczy bind" position where White contests the d5 square.

3. b3 is the Westerinen attack, preparing to fianchetto the bishop.

3. d3 may lead to a king's Indian-type position. White recognises that the position is a bit like a French defence (1. e4 e6), just where Black has already played ...c5 and hasn't gotten to ...d5 yet. White may start with 3. Qe2 or 3. g3 and reach the same set-up.

History

Carl Jaenisch (1813―1872) may have been the first one to give this the name "French". In his 19th century treatise on chess, he grouped together 1...c5 followed by 2...e6 (2...e6 was the main variation at the time) with 1...e6 as the "French Openings", writing, "Far from being 'irregular,' they afford a line of defence more secure than [1...e5], but the Kings being severally less exposed, the game becomes much more tedious."^[1]

Theory table

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6

	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Kan variation	d4 cxd4	Nxd4 a6	Bd3 Bc5	Nb3 Be7	Qg4 g6	Qe2 d6	O-O Nd7	Nc3 Qc7
Taimanov variation	... ...	... Nc6	Nc3 Qc7	Be3 a6	Qd2 Nf6	O-O-O Bb4	f3 Ne5	Nb3 b5
Scheveningen variation	... ...	... Nf6	Nc3 d6	g4 h6	h4 Nc6	Rg1 h5	gxh5 Nxh5	Bg5 Nf6
Kveinis variation	... ...	... Qb6	Nb3 Qc7	Bd3 Nf6
Paulsen-Basman defence	... ...	... Bc5	Nb3 Bb6	Nc3 Ne7
Delayed Alapin	c3 d5	exd5 exd5	d4 Nc6	Bb5 Bd6
Kramnik variation	c4 Nc6	Nc3 Nf6	Be2 d5	exd5 exd5	d4 Be6

References

↑ de Jaenisch, C. F. (1847). Jaenisch's chess preceptor: a new analysis of the openings of games. Translated by Walker, George. London: Longman & co. (translation of de Jaenisch, C. F. (1842). Analyse nouvelle des ouvertures du jeu des échecs. Gartner.)