Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line

12/12
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3Bb44.e5c55.a3Ba56.b4cxd4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line21k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
65%14k46%
13%2.7k47%
12%2.5k45%
9.4%2.0k57%
0.4%9543%
0.2%4626%
0.2%4343%
0.1%2724%
0.1%244%
0%30%
Famous games in this line1.4k 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)2019½–½Firouzja, Alireza (2767) – Aronian, L. (2729)20241–0Dominguez Perez, L. (2739) – Topalov, V. (2740)20191–0Vidit, S. (2720) – Aronian, L. (2729)20240–1
Heroes of this opening Mamedyarov, S. · Fedoseev, Vl3 · Firouzja, Alireza · Dominguez Perez, L.
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 6. b4 cxd4
★ Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: St. George Defense, Traditional Line2…a6 3.Nf3 b5 4.Bd3 c5 5.c3 …French Defense: Advance Variation, Lputian Variation3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 …French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Lasker Variation3…Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 …
From the archives

Paris challenged London by correspondence in January 1834; the match took about two years, Paris met 1.e4 with 1...e6, and Paris won. The defence 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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