C10 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Rubinstein Variation

6/6
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3dxe4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Rubinstein Variation3.9M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
88%3.4M53%
10%392k58%
0.4%15k55%
0.4%15k48%
0.4%14k50%
0.1%4.8k51%
0.1%4.8k51%
0.1%2.2k51%
0.1%2.2k45%
0.1%2.1k46%
Famous games in this line5.8k master games
So, W. (2815) – Carlsen, M. (2832)2017½–½Kasparov, Garry (2851) – Anand, Viswanathan (2769)2000½–½Kasparov, Garry (2851) – Anand, Viswanathan (2769)20001–0Kasparov, Garry (2838) – Ponomariov, Ruslan (2727)20021–0Nakamura, Hi (2787) – Harikrishna, P. (2763)20161–0Anand, Viswanathan (2788) – Gelfand, Boris (2758)2009½–½Aronian, L. (2764) – So, W. (2778)2018½–½Aronian, L. (2764) – So, W. (2778)2018½–½
Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · Nakamura, Hi
Family
French Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C10
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4
★ Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines →
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Ellis GambitC10 4.Nxe4 e5French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Maric VariationC10 4.Nxe4 Qd5French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Blackburne DefenseC10 4.Nxe4 Nd7 · 1 deeper lineFrench Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Fort Knox VariationC10 4.Nxe4 Bd7 5.Nf3 Bc6
Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: Marshall GambitC10 3…c5French Defense: Winawer VariationC15 3…Bb4French Defense: Classical VariationC11 3…Nf6
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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