Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Eliskases Variation

12/12
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nd2c54.exd5Qxd55.Ngf3cxd46.Bc4Qd8
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Eliskases Variation34k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
68%23k60%
29%9.7k57%
1.6%54059%
0.9%31550%
0.2%5459%
0.1%2638%
0.1%1945%
0%1656%
0%1342%
0%1127%
Famous games in this line447 master games
Navara, D. (2737) – Harikrishna, P. (2737)2017½–½Mamedov, Rau (2709) – Le Quang Liem (2737)20171–0Wei Yi (2736) – Xiong, Jeffery (2679)20191–0Wei Yi (2736) – Xiong, Jeffery (2679)20190–1Rublevsky, Sergei (2697) – Alekseev, Evgeny (2700)2010½–½Zvjaginsev, Vadim (2683) – Grachev, Boris (2705)2012½–½Rublevsky, Sergei (2650) – Beliavsky, Alexander G (2710)1997½–½Adams, Michael (2729) – Gurevich, Mikhail (2627)20071–0
Heroes of this opening Mamedov, Rau · Wei Yi · Xiong, Jeffery · Adams, Michael
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 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd8
★ Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: St. George Defense, Traditional Line2…a6 3.Nf3 b5 4.Bd3 c5 5.c3 …French Defense: Advance Variation, Lputian Variation3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 …French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Lasker Variation3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 …
From the archives

Paris challenged London by correspondence in January 1834; the match took about two years, Paris met 1.e4 with 1...e6, and Paris won. The defence 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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