Semi-Open · a defense for Black
French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit
3/3
1.e4e62.b4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit16k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
54%8.5k53%
23%3.6k55%
4.2%66753%
4%62746%
3.9%61048%
3.1%48946%
1.5%24150%
1.3%20651%
1%16049%
0.9%14046%
- Family
- French Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- C00
- Line
- 1. e4 e6 2. b4
Gambit
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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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