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French Defense

Alekhine-Chatard Attack, Maróczy Variation

C13aggressivepositional

  1. 1.e4e6
  2. 2.d4d5
  3. 3.Nc3Nf6
  4. 4.Bg5Be7
  5. 5.e5Nfd7
  6. 6.h4a6
947 games50%45%

A French Defense line in the Alekhine-Chatard Attack where Black declines the g5-bishop with 6...a6, a waiting move that keeps White's knight off b5.

Train it in Theoria

About the Maróczy Variation

The Maróczy Variation declines the Alekhine-Chatard Attack's offer of the g5-bishop. Rather than taking with 6...Bxg5, Black plays 6...a6, a useful waiting move that covers b5 against a white knight and keeps queenside expansion in reserve. White usually responds with 7. Qg4, eyeing g7 and the kingside, and scores well with it, while 7. Bxe7 trades bishops and leads to more even results. The engine gives White a slight edge.

Popular continuations