The French Defence in 10 minutes

2...d5 cuuuuuuuuC
The French Defence is a (rhb1kgn4}
different way of playing cuuuuuuuuC
(rhb1kgn4} 70pdwDp0p}
against 1.e4 as Black than 6wDwDpDwD}
the usual 1...e5. 70p0wDp0p} 5Dw0p)wDw}
6wDwDpDwD} &wDw)wDwD}
The first few moves
5DwDpDwDw} 3DwDwDwDw}
Black notices something &wDw)PDwD} 2P)PDw)P)}
interesting about the start 3DwDwDwDw} %$NGQIBHR}
position after 1. e4: 2P)PDw)P)} v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC %$NGQIBHR} Now, some White players play
(rhb1kgn4} v,./9EFJMV here a big scary check:
70p0p0p0p}
6wDwDwDwD} Sooner or later, White will 4. Bb5+
have to make a decision cuuuuuuuuC
5DwDwDwDw} (rhb1kgn4}
about the e-Pawn: to swap
&wDwDPDwD} 70p0wDp0p}
it or push it. White can
3DwDwDwDw} swap off on d5: 6wDwDpDwD}
2P)P)w)P)} 5DBDp)wDw}
%$NGQIBHR} 3. exd5 exd5 &wDw)wDwD}
v,./9EFJMV cuuuuuuuuC 3DwDwDwDw}
(rhb1kgn4} 2P)PDw)P)}
The White e-Pawn is 70p0wDp0p} %$NGQIwHR}
undefended. Perhaps Black 6wDwDwDwD} v,./9EFJMV
can counter-attack the e-
Pawn and get good play.
5DwDpDwDw} Put your Bishop in the way. After
&wDw)wDwD} 4...Bd7 5. Bxd7+ Qxd7
There are a few defences 3DwDwDwDw} cuuuuuuuuC
Black can play that have 2P)PDw)P)} (rhwdkgn4}
this idea. In the French, %$NGQIBHR} 70p0qDp0p}
Black plays 1...e6: 6wDwDpDwD}
cuuuuuuuuC v,./9EFJMV
5DwDp)wDw}
(rhb1kgn4} But here Black can get all &wDw)wDwD}
70p0pDp0p} the pieces out quickly and 3DwDwDwDw}
6wDwDpDwD} already has an easy game. 2P)PDw)P)}
5DwDwDwDw} White is better off leaving %$NGQIwHR}
the Black Bishop on c8 v,./9EFJMV
&wDwDPDwD}
locked in for the moment.
3DwDwDwDw} Black has got rid of the biggest
2P)P)w)P)} problem in the position!
%$NGQIBHR} Learn from
v,./9EFJMV OOPS someone else's
mistake! White normally pushes the
...with the idea of following e-Pawn on to e5. White can
up with 2...d5, forcing White Beginners like to give check, and do this straight away, or
to think about the e-Pawn. they like to swap off pieces. If you wait a few moves.
play the French, you are bound to
Play normally goes have one game that goes like this: If White pushes on to e5
straight away, we get the
2. d4 (of course, White 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 following position:
wants to take over the
centre)

C:\Users\DrDave\Documents\ChessDox\COACHING\OPENINGS\French10.doc 07/02/11
cuuuuuuuuC
(rhb1kgn4} Black should try to blow up Learn from
70p0wDp0p}
6wDwDpDwD}
the White centre with moves OOPS someone else's
mistake!
like ...c5 and ...f6, but you
5DwDp)wDw} must pick the right time. The other move. ...f6, can weaken
&wDw)wDwD} the Black King
3DwDwDwDw} cuuuuuuuuC
Learn from
2P)PDw)P)} (rhbDkDw4}
%$NGQIBHR} OOPS someone else's
mistake!
70pDngw0p}
6w1wDp0wD}
v,./9EFJMV 5DN0p)wDQ}
Don't play ...c5 until the pawn
Forget about the pieces for chain is locked. &wDw)wDw)}
a moment, look at the 3DwDBDwDw}
3. Nc3 c5? 2P)PGw)PD}
Pawns. cuuuuuuuuC
cuuuuuuuuC %$wDwIwHR}
(rhb1kgn4} v,./9EFJMV
(wDwDwDwD} 70pDwDp0p}
70p0wDp0p} 6wDwDpDwD} In this position, Black has played
6wDwDpDwD} 5Dw0pDwDw} ...f6 but has also moved lots of
5DwDp)wDw} &wDw)PDwD} pieces away from the King's-side.
&wDw)wDwD} 3DwHwDwDw} White plays a check, but Black
2P)PDw)P)} dare not put the g-Pawn in the
3DwDwDwDw} %$wGQIBHR} way and has to move the King.
2P)PDw)P)} v,./9EFJMV White won in another few moves
%DwDwDwdw} by a direct attack:
The position is not yet closed, and
v,./9EFJMV this Pawn move is very 10...Kf8 11.Rh3 cxd4 12.Rg3
White has an advanced e- dangerous. fxe5 13.Rxg7 Kxg7 14.Bh6+
Pawn, while Black's Pawns Kg8 15.Bg6 1-0
White can expose and try to win
are all still on the Black half
the Black d-Pawn.
of the board. White has
more space, but Black has 4. exd5 exd5 5. dxc5 The battle for d4
something to attack. cuuuuuuuuC
(rhb1kgn4} At some point, Black will
Black should attack the 70pDwDp0p} normally swap off Pawns on
White Pawns with Pawns 6wDwDwDwD} d4, to bring the base of the
and pieces. 5Dw)pDwDw} Pawn chain nearer to
cuuuuuuuuC &wDwDwDwD} Black's pieces. In the last
(wDbDwDwD} 3DwHwDwDw} diagram, the base of
70pdwDw0p} 2P)PDw)P)} White's Pawn chain is on
6w1nDp0wD} %$wGQIBHR} b2, which is a long way
v,./9EFJMV away. After a swap:
5Dw0p)nDw}
&wDw)wDwD} Black has some problems to cuuuuuuuuC
3Dw)wDwDw} solve. Don’t open up the game (rDbdkgn4}
2P)wDw)P)} when you are behind in 70pDwDp0p}
%DwDwDwdw} development. See also: 6w1nDpDwD}
v,./9EFJMV Bittner,T - Menge,B [C10] Baden 5Dwdp)wDw}
Baden op, 1988 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 &wDw)wDwD}
Also, notice the Black 3.Nc3 c5 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Qxd4 Ne7 3DwdwDNDw}
Bishop locked in on c8: you 6.Bf4 Nbc6 7.Qa4 Bd7 8.Nb5 2P)wDw)P)}
must make plans to get this
piece going.
Ng6 9.Nc7+ Ke7 10.Qa3+ Kf6 %$NGQIBdR}
11.Bg5# 1-0 v,./9EFJMV

- page 2 -
The base of White's Pawn cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC
chain is on d4, well within (rDbDkdw4} (rDbDkgn4}
reach. Black will follow up 70pDwDp0p} 70pDwDp0p}
with ...Ng8-e7-f5: 6w1nDpDwD}
6w1nDpDwD} 5DwDp)wDw}
cuuuuuuuuC 5DwDp)nDw} &wDw)wDwD}
(rDbdkgw4} &wgw)wDwD} 3DPDwDNDw}
70pDwDp0p} 3DPDwDNDw} 2PDwDw)P)}
6w1nDpDwD} 2PGwDB)P)} %$NGQIBDR}
5Dwdp)nDw} %$NDQIwDR} v,./9EFJMV
&wDw)wDwD} v,./9EFJMV Now
3DwdwDwDw}
2P)wDw)P)} White is not happy to see 7...Bb4+ 8.Bd2 Nxd4
%$NGQIBHR} this move. If White puts a and White had lost the d-Pawn
Knight in the way (on d2 or
v,./9EFJMV c3), Black will take the d-
and was struggling to hang on to
the e-Pawn.
White's d-Pawn is getting Pawn. And if White puts a
into trouble. Two points to Bishop in the way on c3,
note: Black will still take the d- Learn from
(1) As Black, you don't want Pawn! So White must move
the King, and so will not be
OOPS someone else's
mistake!
to make this swap too early,
able to castle. Black wants to threaten and win
because the White Pawn on
c3 is taking away the best This position isn't exactly the d-Pawn, but there is a trap you
square for the White Knight bad for White, but it shows must know.
on b1. If the Knight moves, how Black can set some cuuuuuuuuC
then Black can swap. problems for White, and at (rDbDkgn4}
(2) If White chooses to try
junior level, you will pick up 70pDwDp0p}
some easy wins with it. 6w1nDpDwd}
and defend the d-Pawn, the
White pieces often get in a 5Dw0p)wDw}
tangle. Let's look at an Learn from &wDw)wDwD}
example from a local game:
cuuuuuuuuC
OOPS someone else's
mistake!
3Dw)BDNDw}
2P)wDw)P)}
(rDbDkgw4} For example, a local junior game %$NGQIwDR}
70pDwDp0p} went: v,./9EFJMV
6w1nDpDwD} White has cut off the defence of
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3
5DwDp)nDw} the d-Pawn by the White Queen.
Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6
&wDw)wDwD} cuuuuuuuuC But Black should not take the d-
3DPDwDNDw} (rDbdkgn4} Pawn:
2PGwDB)P)} 70pDwDp0p}
6…cxd4 7. cxd4 Nxd4? 8.
%$NDQIwDR} 6w1nDpDwD}
Nxd4 Qxd4??
v,./9EFJMV 5Dw0p)wDw}
&wDw)wDwD}
Black has attacked the d- 3Dw)wDNDw}
Pawn three times and White 2P)wDw)P)}
has defended the d-Pawn %$NGQIBdR}
three times. Is White OK v,./9EFJMV
here? Black now shows
White hopes to take the pressure
that White still needs to be
off the b-Pawn and support d4
careful: Black plays a check
with a Bishop on b2, but…
on b4 with the Bishop.
6.b3? cxd4 7.cxd4

- page 3 -
 cuuuuuuuuC 8.Be3 Qxa1 9.Qc2! Learn from
(rDbDkgn4}
70pDwDp0p} And Black’s Queen is lost. So, if OOPS someone else's
mistake!
6wdwDpDwd} Black wants to play the Knight to
5Dwdp)wDw} f5, we need to think harder. Don’t castle into White’s King’s-
&wDw1wDwD} side attack. With a closed centre,
3DwdBDwDw} Learn from Black’s King is sometimes safer in
2P)wDw)P)} the centre.
%$NGQIwDR} OOPS someone else's
mistake! Efler,L (2255) - Kubat,A [C05]
v,./9EFJMV
If you want to get the Knight to f5 CZE-chT, 1993 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5
White now has a deadly 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Bd3 c5 5.c3 Nc6
in this line, you need to swap
discovery: 6.Ngf3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bb4 8.e5
pawns in the centre first (even
9. Bb5+ though that gives White a good Nd7 9.0-0 Qb6 10.Nb3 0-0
square to play Nc3). cuuuuuuuuC
and Black loses the Queen… (rDbDw4kD}
6...cxd4! 7.cxd4 Nh6! 70pDnDp0p}
Learn from Again, when the Black Knight 6w1nDpDwD}
OOPS someone else's
mistake!
comes to h6, White might want to
take it.
5DwDp)wDw}
&wgw)wDwD}
cuuuuuuuuC 3DNDBDNDw}
When the Black Knight comes to (rDbDkgw4}
h6, White might want to take it. 70pDwDp0p} 2P)wDw)P)}
cuuuuuuuuC 6w1nDpDwh} %$wGQDRIw}
(rDbDkgw4} 5Dw0p)wDw} v,./9EFJMV
70pDwDp0p} &wDw)wDwD}
6w1nDpDwh} 11. Bxh7+! 1-0
3Dw)wDNDw}
5Dw0p)wDw} 2P)wDB)P)} Black resigned! Can you follow
&wDw)wDwD} %$NGQIwDR} why? Often this sacrifice leads to
3Dw)wDNDw} v,./9EFJMV mate, but here White just wins by
2P)wDB)P)}
– well, what?
%$NGQIwDR} Now White really will get a
v,./9EFJMV surprise!
The Knight will be strong when it 8. Bxh6 Qxb2?
comes to f5, and the White Bishop cuuuuuuuuC
on c1 is always going to be (rDbDkgw4}
blocked in by the White Pawns. 70pDwDp0p}
So why not take it? Black hopes 6wDnDpDwG}
that White will get a surprise! 5Dwdp)wDw}
7. Bxh6 Qxb2? &wDw)wDwD}
cuuuuuuuuC 3DwdwDNDw}
(rDbDkgw4} 2P1wDB)P)}
70pDwDp0p} %$NDQIwDR}
6wDnDpDwG} v,./9EFJMV
5Dw0p)wDw} Black is winning: the Queen can
&wDw)wDwD} escape.
3Dw)wDNDw}
2P1wDB)P)}
%$NDQIwDR}
v,./9EFJMV
Well, very good, but

- page 4 -
 cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC
(rDbdkgn4} (rhb1kgw4}
Some French Variations 70pDwDp0p} 70p0wDp0p}
If you get to the point where 6w1nDpDwD} 6wDwDphwD}
your opponents know how 5Dw0p)wDw} 5DwDpDwDw}
to play the first few moves &wDw)wDwD} &wDw)PDwD}
with confidence, then you 3Dw)wDNDw} 3DwHwDwDw}
need to learn some definite 2P)wDw)P)} 2P)PDw)P)}
moves to play back. %$NGQIBdR} %$wGQIBHR}
The Advance Variation v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV
3. e5 White can hang on to the And White needs to do
cuuuuuuuuC Pawn but must play something about e4 again.
(rhb1kgn4} carefully. Black can often
If White pushes on with e4-
70p0wDp0p} make White do without e5 here, we get what is
6wDwDpDwD} castling.
called the Steinitz Variation.
5DwDp)wDw} The Black Knight usually
&wDw)wDwD} If this is nothing promising
drops back to d7, where it
3DwDwDwDw} for White, why not try and
attacks e5.
2P)PDw)P)} hang on to the e-Pawn on cuuuuuuuuC
%$NGQIBHR} e4? (rhb1kgw4}
v,./9EFJMV 70p0nDp0p}
The Classical Variation 6wDwDpdwD}
Once the Pawns are locked
like this, Black will play At the third move, Black can 5DwDp)wDw}
3...c5, trying to undermine try to support the e-Pawn &wDw)wDwD}
the support of the e-Pawn. with a Knight: 3DwHwDwDw}
cuuuuuuuuC 3. Nc3 2P)PDw)P)}
(rhb1kgn4} cuuuuuuuuC %$wGQIBHR}
70pDwDp0p} (rhb1kgn4} v,./9EFJMV
6wDwDpDwD} 70p0wDp0p} Instead of going for this line,
5Dw0p)wDw} 6wDwDpDwD} White often pins the Black
&wDw)wDwD} 5DwDpDwDw} Knight, but Black can pin
3DwDwDwDw} &wDw)PDwD} straight back:
2P)PDw)P)} 3DwHwDwDw} 4. Bg5 Bb4
%$NGQIBHR} 2P)PDw)P)} cuuuuuuuuC
v,./9EFJMV %$wGQIBHR} (rhb1kDw4}
White defends with 4.c3.
v,./9EFJMV 70p0wDp0p}
Notice that White is having Sadly for White, we now get 6wDwDphwD}
to react to Black's threats, into a battle for control of 5DwDpDwGw}
not the other way around. the e4 square, which White &wgw)PDwD}
Black follows up with more
cannot win. Black does not 3DwHwDwDw}
play ...c5 yet (see above) 2P)PDw)P)}
attacking moves, like ...Nc6,
but attacks e4 with a Knight, %$wDQIBHR}
and ...Qb6.
trying to make White move v,./9EFJMV
the e-Pawn: 3...Nf6
This is called the
MacCutcheon Variation.
Black can play 4…Be7
instead, but I like the Mac.

- page 5 -
It was more fashionable in cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC
the 1920s, being played by (rhb1kDw4} (wDk4wDw4}
Alekhine, Capablanca and 70p0wDp0w} 70pDbDR!w}
Tarrasch. Now White 6wDwDpDw0}
6wDwDpdw0} 5DwDp)wDw}
usually pushes on with 5. 5DwDp)wdw}
e5, and the fight is on. &wDn)wDw)}
&wdw)nDwD} 3Dw)KDwDw}
Black doesn't lose the 3Dw)wDwDw} 2PDBDN)PD}
Knight on f6 because of 2PdPGw)P)} %DwDw1wDw}
5...h6 %$wDQIBHR} v,./9EFJMV
cuuuuuuuuC v,./9EFJMV Black has caught a bigger fish
(rhb1kDw4} than a Rook.
70p0wDp0w} Black has given up the good
6wDwDphw0} dark-squared Bishop to
make a mess of White’s
5DwDp)wGw} Pawns. White will always
P.S.
&wgw)wDwD} have the problem of the Other defences (or
3DwHwDwDw} weak Queen’s-side, even if counterattacks) that use the
2P)PDw)P)} Black’s King’s-side is weak same attack on e4 include:
%$wDQIBHR} without the Bishop. The Caro-Kann Defence
v,./9EFJMV If Black can avoid an 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5
The e4-e5 move still isn't accident on the King’s-side,
forced at move 5, but all the the White Queen’s-side can The Alekhine Defence
other moves give Black an be taken apart. 1. e4 Nf6
easy game. If you want the
Here is a typical The Scandinavian Defence
variations, here they are:
MacCutcheon position,
5. Bd3 dxe4 6. Bxe4 Nbd7= reached after 1. e4 d5
5.f3 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Nge2 Ladisic,S - San Marco,B [C12]
dxe4 8.fxe4 e5 =+ Paris, 1983 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5
3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6
5. Qd3 dxe4 +
6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Qg4
5. Nge2 h6! = g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2 10.Kxd2 c5
5. exd5 Qxd5! 6. Bxf6 11.h4 Nc6 12.Rh3 Qe7 13.Rf3
Bxc3+! = cuuuuuuuuC
(rDbDkDw4}
So, the main variations of 70pDw1pDw}
the French Defence all lead 6wDnDpDp0}
to the same Pawn structure 5Dw0p)wDw}
in the middle. In the &wDw)wDQ)}
MacCutcheon we also 3Dw)BDRDw}
usually get a mess on the 2PDPIw)PD}
Queen’s-side: %$wDwDwHw}
v,./9EFJMV
White is pressing on the King’s-
side, but has problems on the
other wing. Black bursts through
with the Queen and nabs a Rook:
13…cxd4 14.cxd4 Qb4+ 15.c3
Qb2+ 16.Bc2 Qxa1 17.Rxf7
Bd7 18.Qxg6 0-0-0 19.Ne2 Na5
20.Qg7 Nc4+ 21.Kd3 Qe1 0-1

- page 6 -