C00 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Reversed Philidor Formation

9/9
1.e4e62.d3d53.Nd2Nf64.Ngf3Nc65.Be2
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Reversed Philidor Formation3.9k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
39%1.5k44%
18%69545%
12%47044%
9.7%37646%
9.6%37443%
2.9%11435%
2.1%8147%
2%7937%
1.4%5339%
0.9%3646%
Famous games in this line114 master games
Lein, Anatoly (2525) – Portisch, Lajos (2630)1978½–½Schmaltz, Roland (2502) – Vaganian, Rafael A (2605)19990–1Petrosian, TL. (2651) – Pourramezanali, A. (2427)20141–0Chigaev, M. (2626) – Piliposyan, Robert (2442)2025½–½Belozerov, Andrei (2552) – Tunik, Gennady (2505)20040–1Belkhodja, Slim (2531) – Apicella, Manuel (2524)20011–0Pedersen, Jan (2413) – Rustemov, Alexander (2607)2002½–½Braun, Christi2 (2437) – Baklan, V. (2573)2022½–½
Heroes of this opening Vaganian, Rafael A · Petrosian, TL. · Tunik, Gennady · Belkhodja, Slim
Family
French Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C00
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. Be2
★ Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen AttackC02 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 …French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Wolf GambitC15 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Ne2 Nf6 …French Defense: Advance Variation, Ruisdonk GambitC02 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.Nf3 cxd4 …
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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