The St. George Defense, Traditional Line is a variation of the French Defense, catalogued as ECO C00. The line runs 1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. Nf3 b5 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Bb7 6. O-O Nf6, reaching the position shown below after 12 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is White to move after six moves. White has castled while Black’s king is still uncommitted.
On the French Defense generally: A solid defense where Black builds a strong pawn chain. Leads to strategic middlegames with clear plans.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
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The St. George Defense, Traditional Line goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. Nf3 b5 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Bb7 6. O-O Nf6. It is a variation of the French Defense and is catalogued as ECO C00.
The St. George Defense, Traditional Line is ECO C00. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the French Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. Nf3 b5 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Bb7 6. O-O Nf6 at +0.90 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for White. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is White to move. White has castled while Black’s king is still uncommitted.