C11 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Classical Variation, Swiss Variation

7/7
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3Nf64.Bd3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Classical Variation, Swiss Variation324k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
32%103k53%
29%95k46%
21%67k48%
9.9%32k47%
2.1%6.7k50%
1.6%5.2k45%
1.4%4.5k46%
0.8%2.7k37%
0.7%2.4k48%
0.6%2.0k47%
Famous games in this line172 master games
Kovalenko, I. (2674)Abdusattorov, Nodirbek (2651)20220–1Bortnyk, Olexandr (2604)Jumabayev, R. (2628)20220–1Mamedov, Nidjat (2602)Nyzhnyk, Illya (2607)2013½–½Rabiega, Robert (2477)Topalov, Veselin (2702)2000½–½Asrian, Karen (2605)Andersson, Ulf (2570)2004½–½Rabiega, R. (2503)Vidit, S. (2651)20151–0Karthikeyan, M2. (2578)Aravindh, Chithambaram VR (2573)2017½–½Rabiega, Robert (2527)Huebner, Robert (2604)20040–1
Heroes of this opening Abdusattorov, Nodirbek · Jumabayev, R. · Rabiega, R. · Huebner, Robert
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C11
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bd3
Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines
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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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