C03 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Modern System

6/6
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nd2a6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Modern System83k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
36%30k54%
23%19k56%
16%13k53%
14%11k51%
3.3%2.8k51%
2.9%2.4k53%
2%1.6k50%
1%85149%
0.8%69351%
0.6%50548%
Famous games in this line2.2k master games
Carlsen, Magnus (2835)Radjabov, Teimour (2784)20121–0Gashimov, Vugar (2758)Ponomariov, Ruslan (2739)20090–1Anand, Viswanathan (2784)Topalov, Veselin (2700)1999½–½Anand, V. (2751)Topalov, V. (2727)2024½–½Hammer, J. (2677)Topalov, V. (2798)20150–1Radjabov, Teimour (2717)Ponomariov, Ruslan (2738)2006½–½Adams, Michael (2733)Grachev, Boris (2682)2011½–½Svidler, Peter (2727)Nikolic, Predrag (2669)20091–0
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · Ponomariov, Ruslan · Topalov, V. · Svidler, Peter
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C03
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 a6
Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines
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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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