C11 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Brodsky-Jones Variation

18/18
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3Nf64.e5Nfd75.f4c56.dxc5Nc67.a3Bxc58.Qg4O-O9.Nf3f6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Brodsky-Jones Variation16 games · White to move
Only 16 games reach this position at this level — read it loosely.
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
88%1457%
6.3%1100%
6.3%150%
Famous games in this line1 master games
Santos Ruiz, Miguel (2596) – Gascon Del Nogal, Jose Rafael (2442)20251–0
Family
French Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C11
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. dxc5 Nc6 7. a3 Bxc5 8. Qg4 O-O 9. Nf3 f6
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Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Duras VariationC12 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 …French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Grigoriev VariationC12 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.exf6 hxg5 …French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Main LineC18 3…Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3 6.bxc3 …
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
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