Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Bogoljubow Variation

14/14
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3Nf64.Bg5Bb45.exd5Qxd56.Bxf6gxf67.Qd2Qa5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Bogoljubow Variation175 games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
59%10463%
14%2548%
10%1842%
5.1%967%
5.1%956%
2.3%438%
2.3%425%
1.1%2100%
Famous games in this line23 master games
Cornette, M. (2558) – Sochacki, C. (2479)20190–1Kindermann, Stefan (2490) – Gurevich, Mikhail (2515)19870–1Hector, J. (2493) – Andersen, Mad (2504)20161–0Govedarica, R. (2374) – Vocaturo, D. (2599)2016½–½Sigurjonsson, Gudmundur (2475) – Dvoretzky, Mark (2495)19750–1Peter, Ambrus (2421) – Czebe, Attila (2474)20010–1Kozlowski, Waldemar (2470) – Swan, Iain (2415)2007½–½Hector, J. (2513) – Mihajlov, Seb (2372)2016½–½
Heroes of this opening Sochacki, C. · Gurevich, Mikhail · Hector, J. · Dvoretzky, Mark
Family
French Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C12
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Qd2 Qa5
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Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Warsaw Variation3…Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3 6.bxc3 …French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn Variation3…Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3 6.bxc3 …French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation3…Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3 6.bxc3 …
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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