C10 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Fort Knox Variation

10/10
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3dxe44.Nxe4Bd75.Nf3Bc6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Fort Knox Variation310k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
85%263k50%
8.4%26k51%
3%9.2k47%
1.7%5.4k63%
0.6%2.0k53%
0.4%1.3k45%
0.2%71640%
0.2%63943%
0.2%50946%
0.2%50529%
Famous games in this line2.8k master games
So, W. (2815) – Carlsen, M. (2832)2017½–½Anand, Viswanathan (2788) – Gelfand, Boris (2758)2009½–½Gashimov, Vugar (2758) – Gelfand, Boris (2758)2009½–½Dominguez Perez, L. (2763) – Rapport, R. (2747)2019½–½Anand, Viswanathan (2779) – Gelfand, Boris (2729)2006½–½Kamsky, Gata (2735) – Karpov, Anatoly (2770)19960–1Nakamura, Hi (2768) – Duda, J. (2731)20220–1Wei Yi (2755) – Duda, J. (2739)2025½–½
Heroes of this opening Karpov, Anatoly · Duda, J.
Family
French Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C10
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bd7 5. Nf3 Bc6
★ Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines →
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: Steinitz VariationC11 3…a6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe VariationC02 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7French Defense: Advance Variation, Wade VariationC02 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Bd7
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.

Study this opening
Open in the opening tree →Videos on YouTube ↗Wikipedia: French Defense ↗