C18 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn Variation

14/14
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3Bb44.e5c55.a3Bxc3+6.bxc3Ne77.Qg4Kf8
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn Variation11k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
28%3.0k47%
26%2.9k48%
16%1.8k46%
7.4%81943%
6.8%75149%
4.3%47941%
3.1%34652%
2.5%28137%
2.4%26558%
1.8%19740%
Famous games in this line687 master games
Anand, V. (2783) – So, W. (2810)2017½–½Kamsky, Gata (2729) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2786)20081–0Grischuk, A. (2772) – Le Quang Liem (2737)20171–0Grischuk, A. (2772) – Le Quang Liem (2737)20171–0Wei Yi (2739) – Ivanchuk, V. (2729)20170–1Kasparov, Garry (2810) – Nikolic, Predrag (2655)19941–0Kasparov, Garry (2805) – Nikolic, Predrag (2655)19941–0Pichot, A.. (2630) – So, W.. (2770)20210–1
Heroes of this opening Grischuk, A. · Kasparov, Garry · Kamsky, Gata · Ivanchuk, V.
Family
French Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C18
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Kf8
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Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Warsaw VariationC18 7…O-OFrench Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Bogoljubow VariationC12 3…Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Bxf6 …French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn VariationC18 7…Qc7
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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