C16 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Petrosian Variation
8/8
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3Bb44.e5Qd7
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Petrosian Variation39k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
46%18k46%
17%6.5k48%
13%4.9k46%
9.2%3.6k44%
8.8%3.4k46%
2.8%1.1k45%
1.3%49446%
0.8%31761%
0.5%18228%
0.3%13552%
Famous games in this line1.1k master games
Aronian, L. (2775) – Carlsen, M. (2872)Nepomniachtchi, I. (2775) – Caruana, F. (2819)Grischuk, A. (2782) – Caruana, F. (2799)Anand, V. (2757) – Caruana, F. (2822)Aronian, L. (2752) – Caruana, F. (2819)Saric, Iv (2690) – Caruana, F. (2828)Leko, Peter (2713) – Georgiev, Kiril (2655)Obregon, Carlos Andres (2525) – Caruana, Fabiano (2822)Heroes of this opening Caruana, Fabiano · Nepomniachtchi, I. · Anand, V. · Leko, Peter
- Family
- French Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- C16
- Line
- 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Qd7
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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.
Study this opening