C18 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Warsaw Variation

14/14
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3Bb44.e5c55.a3Bxc3+6.bxc3Ne77.Qg4O-O
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Warsaw Variation38k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
41%16k50%
26%9.8k42%
16%6.0k50%
8.2%3.1k38%
4.3%1.7k50%
2.1%82142%
0.6%24230%
0.6%23845%
0.6%23144%
0.6%21240%
Famous games in this line3.0k master games
Karjakin, Sergey (2778)Carlsen, Magnus (2843)2012½–½Kasparov, Garry (2815)Short, Nigel D (2665)19941–0Karjakin, Sergey (2778)Vallejo Pons, Francisco (2697)20121–0Svidler, Peter (2726)Grischuk, Alexander (2748)2009½–½Caruana, F. (2795)Shankland, S. (2656)20161–0Leko, P. (2730)Nepomniachtchi, I. (2721)2013½–½Ponomariov, Ruslan (2727)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2717)20021–0Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2734)Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2704)2012½–½
Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · Karjakin, Sergey · Caruana, F. · Ponomariov, Ruslan
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 O-O
Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines
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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.

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