C07 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Chistyakov Defense

8/8
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nd2c54.exd5Qxd5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Chistyakov Defense186k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
64%119k54%
24%44k52%
3.7%6.9k47%
2.9%5.3k47%
2.6%4.9k45%
1.4%2.6k43%
1.1%2.0k49%
0.7%1.4k42%
0.2%46049%
0.1%13550%
Famous games in this line5.1k master games
Anand, V. (2786) – So, W. (2812)2017½–½Karjakin, Sergey (2781) – Caruana, F. (2808)2017½–½Karjakin, Sergey (2781) – Caruana, F. (2808)20170–1Wei Yi (2763) – Erigaisi, Arjun (2797)2024½–½Karjakin, Sergey (2779) – Morozevich, Alexander (2770)2012½–½Karjakin, Sergey (2781) – Grischuk, A. (2761)20170–1Karjakin, Sergey (2760) – Nakamura, Hi (2776)2015½–½Topalov, Veselin (2796) – Kamsky, Gata (2725)20091–0
Heroes of this opening Caruana, F. · Grischuk, A. · Topalov, Veselin
Family
French Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C07
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5
★ Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines →
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Eliskases VariationC07 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4 Qd8French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Chistyakov Defense, Modern LineC07 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.O-O Nf6 …
Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: Hoffmann GambitC00 3.Qe2 e5 4.f4 exf4French Defense: McCutcheon VariationC12 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Ellis GambitC10 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 e5
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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