C01 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Exchange Variation, Monte Carlo Variation

7/7
1.e4e62.d4d53.exd5exd54.c4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Exchange Variation, Monte Carlo Variation3.5M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
47%1.6M50%
20%701k48%
17%603k44%
5.1%178k51%
3.2%113k48%
2.4%82k44%
2.2%76k49%
0.9%33k48%
0.5%16k47%
0.4%16k47%
Famous games in this line1.4k master games
Safarli, Eltaj (2660)Vitiugov, Nikita (2734)20131–0Rakhmanov, Ale (2653)Bacrot, E. (2725)2017½–½Rakhmanov, Ale (2653)Cheparinov, I. (2710)2017½–½Morozevich, A. (2683)Rakhmanov, Ale (2662)20160–1Mamedov, Rauf (2639)Sargissian, Gabriel (2680)20101–0Rakhmanov, Ale (2653)Riazantsev, A. (2650)20171–0Mamedov, Rauf (2639)Khismatullin, Denis (2657)2010½–½Rakhmanov, Ale (2653)Melkumyan, H. (2633)20170–1
Heroes of this opening Rakhmanov, Ale · Safarli, Eltaj · Mamedov, Rauf · Melkumyan, H.
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C01
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. c4
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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