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French Defense

Classical Variation, Vistaneckis Variation

C13offbeatpositional

  1. 1.e4e6
  2. 2.d4d5
  3. 3.Nc3Nf6
  4. 4.Bg5Be7
  5. 5.e5Ng8
341 games50%47%

An offbeat French Classical line in which Black retreats the knight to g8 after 5. e5, planning to recapture on e7 with it rather than with the queen.

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About the Vistaneckis Variation

The Vistaneckis Variation, named after the Lithuanian player Isakas Vistaneckis, answers 5. e5 with the retreat 5...Ng8 instead of the usual 5...Nfd7. The idea is that after 6. Bxe7 Black takes back with the knight, avoiding a queen recapture. Nearly half of White's replies make that exchange, while 6. h4 is the second choice. The engine prefers keeping the bishop with 6. Be3 or 6. Bd2 and gives White a slight edge. The line is rarely played.

Popular continuations