Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit

9/9
1.e4e62.d4d53.e5c54.Qg4cxd45.Nf3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit123k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
84%104k43%
4.3%5.3k42%
2%2.5k46%
1.5%1.8k29%
1.4%1.8k37%
0.9%1.1k49%
0.8%1.0k39%
0.8%1.0k44%
0.6%79344%
0.6%76041%
Famous games in this line57 master games
Sveshnikov, Evgeny (2541) – Komarov, Dimitri (2582)19991–0Honfi, Karoly (2390) – Uhlmann, Wolfgang (2510)19820–1Hector, Jonny (2465) – Fries Nielsen, Jens Ove (2415)19911–0Vega Gutierrez, Sabrina Neide (2352) – Cruz, Cristhian (2523)20090–1Skomorokhin, Roman (2480) – Candela Perez, Jose (2355)19980–1Vasiukov, Evgeni (2499) – Mohrlok, Dieter (2322)2007½–½Hector, Jonny (2500) – Warwaszynski, Zbigniew (2290)1991½–½Shilin, Denis (2424) – Fingerov, Dmitry (2362)2000½–½
Heroes of this opening Sveshnikov, Evgeny · Uhlmann, Wolfgang · Hector, Jonny · Cruz, Cristhian
Family
French Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C02
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Qg4 cxd4 5. Nf3
Gambit
★ Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: Reversed Philidor Formation2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Ngf3 Nc6 …French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Wolf Gambit3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Ne2 Nf6 5.Bg5
From the archives

Paris challenged London by correspondence in January 1834; the match took about two years, Paris met 1.e4 with 1...e6, and Paris won. The defence has carried the name ever since. Botvinnik and Korchnoi built careers on its cramped-then-counterpunch character: concede space, then break with ...c5 or ...f6 at the right moment.

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