Theoria
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French Defense

Tarrasch Variation, Botvinnik Variation

C05positionaloffbeat

  1. 1.e4e6
  2. 2.d4d5
  3. 3.Nd2Nf6
  4. 4.e5Nfd7
  5. 5.Bd3c5
  6. 6.c3b6
258 games48%47%

A rare branch of the Tarrasch French in which Black plays 6...b6 to prepare ...Ba6, trading the passive light-squared bishop for White's d3-bishop.

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About the Botvinnik Variation

The Botvinnik Variation answers 6. c3 with 6...b6. The move prepares ...Ba6 to exchange Black's hemmed-in light-squared bishop for White's active bishop on d3. It pursues this long-term structural aim instead of adding pressure to d4 with 6...Nc6. White most often replies 7. Ne2, after which Black has scored well in online games. The alternatives 7. Ngf3 and 7. Qe2 are less common. The engine gives White a slight edge, and the line is seldom played.

Popular continuations