C02 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Advance Variation, Wade Variation

10/10
1.e4e62.d4d53.e5c54.c3Qb65.Nf3Bd7
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Advance Variation, Wade Variation374k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
32%119k48%
25%94k47%
19%71k50%
4.6%17k41%
3.7%14k43%
3.3%12k43%
3.3%12k47%
2.6%9.6k47%
2.1%7.9k37%
1.9%7.3k42%
Famous games in this line1.8k master games
Vachier Lagrave, M. (2781) – Aronian, L. (2765)20181–0Vidit, S. (2727) – Rapport, R. (2763)20220–1Svidler, Peter (2742) – Gelfand, Boris (2729)20061–0Svidler, Peter (2733) – Shirov, Alexei (2713)20040–1Grischuk, Alexander (2746) – Morozevich, Alexander (2694)20111–0Firouzja, Alireza (2682) – Wei Yi (2736)2019½–½Grandelius, N.. (2663) – Harikrishna, P.. (2732)20210–1Svidler, Peter (2686) – Gelfand, Boris (2701)2001½–½
Heroes of this opening Vachier Lagrave, M. · Rapport, R. · Svidler, Peter · Shirov, Alexei
Family
French Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C02
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7
★ Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: Steinitz VariationC11 3.Nc3 a6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe VariationC02 4…Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat VariationC17 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5
From the archives

In 1834 the city of Paris beat the city of London in a correspondence match opening with 1...e6, and the defense 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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