Opening Overview

French Defense

211 lines
black repertoire

About This Opening

Black challenges the center with a compact pawn chain and counterpunching chances.

These structures usually reward accurate development, good piece coordination, and patience before committing to pawn breaks.

The practical edge often comes from knowing the main pawn structures and where each side wants counterplay, rather than memorizing long forcing lines.

Key ideas
  • Typical theme: sound structure and flexible plans.
  • Most plans revolve around piece activity and pawn breaks at the right moment.
  • Best for players who want reliable positions and clear structure.
  • Learn the standard middlegame plans, not just the first moves.

Choose a variation

French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Brodsky-Jones Variation
C11 18 plies
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. dxc5 Nc6 7. a3 Bxc5 8. Qg4 O-O 9. Nf3 f6
French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack
C11 9 plies
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Qg4
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation
C12 8 plies
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Advance Variation
C12 9 plies
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Bernstein Variation
C12 11 plies
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bh4
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Bogoljubow Variation
C12 14 plies
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Qd2 Qa5
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Chigorin Variation
C12 11 plies
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. exf6
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Dr. Olland Variation
C12 11 plies
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bc1
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Duras Variation
C12 17 plies
1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4 Kf8 9. Bc1
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Exchange Variation
C12 9 plies
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. exd5
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Grigoriev Variation
C12 17 plies
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. exf6 hxg5 7. fxg7 Rg8 8. h4 gxh4 9. Qg4
French Defense: McCutcheon Variation, Janowski Variation
C12 11 plies
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Be3
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