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French (C13)
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Be7

Number of games in database: 1867
Years covered: 1866 to 2025
Overall record:
   White wins 48.8%
   Black wins 28.0%
   Draws 23.2%

Popularity graph, by decade

Explore this opening  |  Search for sacrifices in this opening.
PRACTITIONERS
With the White Pieces With the Black Pieces
Kurt Richter  23 games
Alexander Alekhine  16 games
Joseph Blackburne  15 games
Evgeny Gleizerov  51 games
Gideon Stahlberg  18 games
Mikhail Ulybin  14 games
NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]
White Wins Black Wins
Alekhine vs H Fahrni, 1914
Alekhine vs A Asgeirsson, 1931
L Forgacs vs Tartakower, 1909
E M Sobernheim vs S Langleben, 1895
Charousek vs Maroczy, 1897
Smeets vs Y Hou, 2008
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 page 1 of 75; games 1-25 of 1,867  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Steinitz vs Bird 1-0401866Bird - SteinitzC13 French
2. Steinitz vs Bird ½-½321866Bird - SteinitzC13 French
3. Anderssen vs K Pitschel 1-0301872NSB-03.KongressC13 French
4. E Thorold vs T H Archdall 0-14518734th C.C.A. CongressC13 French
5. L Goldsmith vs C Fisher ½-½461875Fisher - GoldsmithC13 French
6. Anderssen vs Paulsen 0-1291876Leipzig mC13 French
7. Anderssen vs Paulsen 1-0431876Leipzig mC13 French
8. Anderssen vs Paulsen 0-1331876Leipzig mC13 French
9. Anderssen vs J Metger ½-½661877LeipzigC13 French
10. Schiffers vs Chigorin 0-1411878Chigorin - Schiffers, 1st MatchC13 French
11. Schiffers vs V Lizel 0-1361879St. PetersburgC13 French
12. J de Soyres vs A Skipworth 1-0201880Counties Chess AssociationC13 French
13. E Delmar vs A Sellman  ½-½6618805th American Chess Congress, New YorkC13 French
14. Winawer vs A Schwarz  0-1581880Schwarz - WinawerC13 French
15. Mackenzie vs M Judd 0-1491881Judd - MackenzieC13 French
16. E Crespi Pozzi vs M Cavallotti 1-01818813rd Italian Championship, MilanC13 French
17. E Crespi Pozzi vs G Dalla Rosa  1-04018813rd Italian Championship, MilanC13 French
18. Winawer vs P Meitner 1-0351882ViennaC13 French
19. Englisch vs J Mason  ½-½421882ViennaC13 French
20. Winawer vs J Mason 0-1431882ViennaC13 French
21. E Schallopp vs Blackburne / Allies  0-1421883Consultation gameC13 French
22. Steinitz vs J Seguin 0-1411883Simul, 20bC13 French
23. Steinitz vs Mackenzie 1-0681883Steinitz - Mackenzie Exhibition MatchC13 French
24. Mackenzie vs A Skipworth  1-0621883LondonC13 French
25. Winawer vs Blackburne ½-½581883LondonC13 French
 page 1 of 75; games 1-25 of 1,867  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  

Kibitzer's Corner
Sep-20-04  Knight13: I had this kind of position before. I would play 5. e5 Ne4 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Nxe4 dxe4 8. Qe2, having white to castle queen side and attacking the e4 pawn.
Sep-21-04  jmcd2002: A good plan, but 5...Ne4 is probably wrong (it's at the very least unorthodox). Better is 5 e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 and now black has prepared to push ...c5 and support it with Nc6. Then black will have lots of pieces pointing at c5/d4. Black will play to attack d4, thereby undermining the pawn on e5. In response white will likely play f4 and Nf3 to support d4 and e5. An example line: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. f4 c5 8. Nf3 Nc6 where both sides have good chances.
Sep-21-06  Bartleby: My preferred variation against the classical variation of the French Defence is the Richter attack, which follows: 4) Bg5 Be7 5) BxN BxB 6) e5 Be7 7) Qg4, often followed up with Bd3, O-O-O, and either Nf3/h4/Nce2 or f4/Qh3/g4 depending on the position. The prophylactic a3 also features.

Some nice games featuring this variation:

Tarrasch vs Walbrodt, 1894

Tarrasch's treatment here is archetypical of the attacking possibilites of such a position with opposite castled kings. Nicely conducted by Germany's reknowned teacher.

Showalter vs Lasker, 1893

Another example, this time by the Kentucky Lion, Showalter, defeating Em. Lasker the year before his title match bid. I prefer 15) Bd3 to white's 15) Qg3, however.

J Mason vs Bird, 1895

Mason shows the possibilities against a centralized king by a slow and gradual build up before launching the javellin of f4. Note his excellent use of the d4 post.

Showalter vs Jasnogrodsky, 1894

Here Showalter slyly keeps his options open until he realizes which burrough the enemy king will move to, then shifts his enemy forces in that direction (Q-side). In this closed then semi-closed position his twin knights coordinate very nicely against black's surprisingly inept bishops and dominate all the worthy posts.

Gunsberg vs M Judd, 1889

Gunsberg's go at it, using a slightly modified move order but very similar thematic ideas.

Lastly, merely for humor and maybe an idea for Thursday night chess at the coffeeshop, a Schlechter & Pillsbury miniature production, in two acts:

Schlechter vs H Wolf, 1894

Pillsbury vs Chaseray, 1902

Jan-10-15  edbermac: On 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4 O-O 7. Bd3 c5 8. Qh5 g6 9. Qh6 cxd4 10. Nf3...

Can black get away with 10...dc?

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