C12 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation

11/11
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3Nf64.Bg5Bb45.e5h66.Bc1
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation7.5k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
76%5.6k45%
16%1.2k37%
7.7%57542%
0.2%1650%
0.1%729%
0%10%
0%1100%
Famous games in this line361 master games
Topalov, Veselin (2752) – Vallejo Pons, Francisco (2697)20120–1Bruzon Batista, Lazaro (2668) – Short, Nigel D (2685)20100–1Popov, Ivan1 (2599) – Vallejo Pons, Francisco (2705)2012½–½Duda, J. (2671) – Anton Guijarro, D. (2627)20161–0Savchenko, Boris (2648) – Volkov, Sergey (2632)20081–0Naiditsch, A. (2702) – Buhmann, R. (2564)20180–1Kokarev, Dm (2606) – Morozevich, A. (2659)2019½–½Fressinet, Laurent (2650) – Kortschnoj, Viktor (2610)20071–0
Heroes of this opening Vallejo Pons, Francisco · Short, Nigel D · Duda, J. · Savchenko, Boris
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. e5 h6 6. Bc1
★ Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard AttackC13 4…Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4French Defense: Advance Variation, Main LineC02 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 …French Defense: Advance Variation, Milner-Barry GambitC02 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 …
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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