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French Defense

St. George Defense, Traditional Line

C00offbeatpositional

  1. 1.e4e6
  2. 2.d4a6
  3. 3.Nf3b5
  4. 4.Bd3c5
  5. 5.c3Bb7
  6. 6.O-ONf6
225 games47%49%

Main line of the St. George Defense: Black completes the ...b5, ...c5, ...Bb7 and ...Nf6 setup against White's broad center.

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About the Traditional Line

The Traditional Line is the fully developed form of the St. George Defense. Black has played ...a6, ...b5, ...c5, ...Bb7 and ...Nf6, so the bishop and knight both bear on e4. White, already castled behind a c3-d4 chain, usually continues 7. Re1 to support e4. The main alternatives are 7. e5, which gains space and drives the knight away, and 7. Qe2. Engines also consider 7. dxc5 and give White a slight edge, though Lichess results are close to even.

Popular continuations