C15 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Alekhine Gambit, Alatortsev Variation

16/16
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3Bb44.Ne2dxe45.a3Be76.Nxe4Nf67.N2g3O-O8.Be2Nc6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Alekhine Gambit, Alatortsev Variation14 games · White to move
Only 14 games reach this position at this level — read it loosely.
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
86%1279%
7.1%10%
7.1%10%
Famous games in this line8 master games
Gunnarsson, Jon Viktor (2429) – Meier, Georg (2570)20080–1Mohr, Georg (2511) – Tratar, Marko (2475)2010½–½Adamski, Andrzej (2315) – Eingorn, Vereslav S (2590)19920–1Shvartz, Miroslav (2465) – Cech, Pavel (2330)2000½–½Heidenfeld, Mark (2344) – Cech, Pavel (2407)2005½–½Crouch, Colin S (2330) – Botterill, George Steven (2420)1980½–½Braga, Fernando Alberto (2435) – Valiente, Cristobal (2305)1983½–½Fries Nielsen, Niels Jorgen (2310) – Sorensen, Jan (2285)1989½–½
Heroes of this opening Meier, Georg · Eingorn, Vereslav S
Family
French Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C15
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Ne2 dxe4 5. a3 Be7 6. Nxe4 Nf6 7. N2g3 O-O 8. Be2 Nc6
Gambit
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Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Leningrad VariationC06 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 …French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Duras VariationC12 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 …French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional VariationC19 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3 6.bxc3 Ne7 …
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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