C06 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Leningrad Variation

16/16
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nd2Nf64.e5Nfd75.Bd3c56.c3Nc67.Ne2cxd48.cxd4Nb6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Leningrad Variation5.2k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
68%3.5k53%
19%97151%
5.8%30149%
5.1%26455%
1.1%5750%
0.3%1762%
0.3%1750%
0.1%642%
0.1%30%
0%20%
Famous games in this line240 master games
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2703) – Ponomariov, Ruslan (2744)20101–0Svidler, Peter (2754) – Hebert, Jean (2420)20091–0Wolff, Patrick G (2565) – Kaidanov, Gregory S (2585)1995½–½Kudrin, Sergey (2535) – Kaidanov, Gregory S (2605)19960–1Lputian, Smbat G (2530) – Agzamov, Georgy (2590)19851–0Keres, Paul (2600) – Hecht, Hans Joachim (2485)1973½–½Godena, Michele (2516) – Vasquez Schroder, Rodrigo Rafael (2533)2012½–½Abreu Delgado, Aryam (2480) – Nogueiras Santiago, Jesus (2557)20011–0
Heroes of this opening Vachier Lagrave, Maxime · Svidler, Peter · Kaidanov, Gregory S · Lputian, Smbat G
Family
French Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C06
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4 Nb6
★ Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Alekhine Gambit, Alatortsev VariationC15 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Ne2 dxe4 5.a3 Be7 …French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Duras VariationC12 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 …French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional VariationC19 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 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.

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