C10 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Blackburne Defense

8/8
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3dxe44.Nxe4Nd7
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Blackburne Defense1.4M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
68%950k50%
13%185k51%
3.9%55k48%
2.6%37k45%
2.1%30k47%
1.7%24k46%
1.7%24k43%
1.4%20k44%
1.2%17k47%
1%14k48%
Famous games in this line5.6k master games
Kasparov, 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)20161–0Aronian, L. (2764)So, W. (2778)2018½–½Aronian, L. (2764)So, W. (2778)2018½–½Svidler, Peter (2735)Anand, Viswanathan (2786)2005½–½Kramnik, Vladimir (2777)Bareev, Evgeny (2739)2003½–½
Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · Nakamura, Hi
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C10
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7
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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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