C17 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation

10/10
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3Bb44.e5c55.a3Ba5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation108k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
38%41k54%
22%24k51%
14%15k51%
12%13k48%
4.7%5.0k51%
3.8%4.2k43%
2.3%2.5k43%
2%2.2k42%
0.7%76947%
0.1%10145%
Famous games in this line1.8k master games
Anand, V. (2776) – Mamedyarov, S. (2809)20180–1Karjakin, Sergey (2763) – Mamedyarov, S. (2809)2018½–½Grischuk, A. (2766) – Mamedyarov, S. (2801)2018½–½Fedoseev, Vl3 (2724) – Mamedyarov, S. (2809)20181–0Anand, V. (2767) – So, W. (2754)2019½–½Leko, P. (2730) – Grischuk, A. (2783)2013½–½Kasparov, Garry (2851) – Khalifman, Alexander (2656)2000½–½Firouzja, Alireza (2767) – Aronian, L. (2729)20241–0
Heroes of this opening Mamedyarov, S. · Fedoseev, Vl3 · Firouzja, Alireza
Family
French Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C17
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5
★ Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines →
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian LineC17 6.b4 cxd4
Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: Steinitz VariationC11 3…a6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe VariationC02 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7French Defense: Advance Variation, Wade VariationC02 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Bd7
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
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