Semi-Open · a defense for Black
French Defense: Chigorin Variation
3/3
1.e4e62.Qe2
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Chigorin Variation821k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
41%335k43%
18%145k48%
7.4%61k46%
6.5%54k48%
5.5%45k44%
5%41k46%
4.7%39k45%
3.6%29k43%
2.6%21k44%
1.4%12k48%
Famous games in this line2.1k master games
Carlsen, Magnus (2863) – Xiong, Jeffery (2709)Karjakin, Sergey (2763) – Vallejo Pons, Francisco (2705)Ivanchuk, V. (2710) – Harikrishna, P. (2753)Nepomniachtchi, I. (2714) – Morozevich, A. (2724)Amin, B. (2682) – Vidit, S. (2730)Morozevich, Alexander (2707) – Zvjaginsev, Vadim (2659)Zvjaginsev, Vadim (2659) – Morozevich, Alexander (2707)Nakamura, Hi (2775) – Savchenko, B. (2581)Heroes of this opening Karjakin, Sergey · Morozevich, Alexander · Nakamura, Hi
- Family
- French Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- C00
- Line
- 1. e4 e6 2. Qe2
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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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