C00 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Two Knights Variation

5/5
1.e4e62.Nf3d53.Nc3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Two Knights Variation2.8M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
29%802k51%
28%789k47%
25%714k48%
9.1%255k45%
3.4%97k47%
2.5%71k48%
0.8%24k46%
0.5%15k55%
0.5%13k48%
0.3%8.2k46%
Famous games in this line1.8k master games
Sindarov, Javokhir (2682) – Sevian, Samuel (2696)2024½–½Sindarov, Javokhir (2710) – Moussard, J. (2597)20251–0Dubov, Daniil (2709) – Tregubov, P. (2588)20180–1Sindarov, Javokhir (2726) – Gavrilescu, David (2542)20251–0Harikrishna, Penteala (2682) – Berelowitsch, Alexander (2568)20061–0Lagno, Kateryna (2527) – Artemiev, V. (2701)2024½–½Ljubojevic, Ljubomir (2550) – Petrosian, Tigran V (2645)1973½–½Lastin, Alexander (2535) – Dreev, Alexey (2650)1997½–½
Heroes of this opening Sindarov, Javokhir · Tregubov, P. · Harikrishna, Penteala
Family
French Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C00
Line
1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3
★ Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines →
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: Alapin GambitC00 2.d4 d5 3.Be3French Defense: Morphy GambitC00 2.d4 d5 3.Nh3French Defense: Perseus GambitC00 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3
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
Open in the opening tree →Videos on YouTube ↗Wikipedia: French Defense ↗