Chess Openings - French Defense

French Defense

The French Defense begins with 1. e4 e6. Black prepares ... d5 to challenge the center at once and accepts a solid but slightly cramped position in return. The pawn on e6 supports d5, so Black's center is firm, but the bishop on c8 is shut in behind it and often becomes the problem piece of the opening.

After 2. d4 d5 the position has a recognizable character. White has more space and, in many lines, a lasting initiative on the kingside. Black has a sound structure and a clear plan: attack the base of White's pawn chain on d4 with ... c5, and in closed positions the head of the chain on e5 with ... f6.

The principal third moves are 3. ♘c3, which allows the Winawer 3... ♝b4, the Classical 3... ♞f6 and the Rubinstein 3... dxe4, then 3. ♘d2, the Tarrasch Variation, 3. e5, the Advance Variation, and 3. exd5, the Exchange Variation. The French is a strategic opening. Games are usually decided by pawn structure rather than by early tactics, and the same ideas return in every variation below: the pressure on d4, the cramped bishop and the break ... f6.

Basic ideas

The pawn chains explain most of the play. After e5 White's chain runs d4-e5 and Black's runs e6-d5. A chain is attacked at its base, so Black strikes at d4 with ... c5, and at the head on e5 with ... f6. White does the same in reverse: f4 and f5 undermine the base on e6, and c4 challenges the head on d5.

This typical Classical position shows both plans. White has space, supports e5 with f4 and defends d4 with the knight and the queen. Black piles up on d4 with ... c5 and ... ♞c6, and the queen on e7 and the knight on d7 stand ready for ... f6. If White drops the guard on d4, the pawn falls, and if Black cannot open the position with ... f6 or ... c4, the cramped pieces stay cramped.

The light-squared bishop is the classical French problem. Black has several ways to improve it: ... b6 followed by ... ♝a6 to trade it for White's light-squared bishop, the route ... ♝d7 and ... ♝c6 as in the Fort Knox Variation, or an early exchange of the other pieces so that the bishop has room, as in the Burn Variation.

The Winawer produces a different imbalance. Black gives up the dark-squared bishop for the knight, and White gets the bishop pair, a broad center and space on the kingside, but also doubled pawns on the c-file and a weak pawn on c3. Black attacks c3 and d4 with ... ♛a5, ... ♞bc6 and ... c4, while the dark squares around Black's king, g7 and h7, become the target of ♕g4.

White's attacking methods in most lines are similar: the pawn advance f4, the queen move ♕g4 aimed at g7, the rook lift or a pawn storm with h4, and the sacrifice ♗xh7+ when the bishop sits on d3 and a knight can reach g5. Black's counterplay is almost always on the queenside and in the center.

Advance Variation 3. e5

White pushes the pawn at once. The move gains space, takes the natural square f6 from Black's knight and fixes the pawn chain. In return White gives up the tension on e4, and Black gets a clear target in d4.

Black's counterplay is built on ... c5, ... ♞c6 and ... ♛b6, all aimed at d4, and on the break ... f6 against e5. White defends d4 with c3 and ♘f3, develops the bishop to e2 or d3, and usually plays on the kingside or with the pawn lever b4. The bishop on c8 remains Black's long-term problem, and it is often brought out by ... ♝d7 and ... ♝b5, which offers a trade of the light-squared bishops.

After 3... c5 4. c3 ♞c6 5. ♘f3 the move 5... ♛b6 attacks d4 and b2 at the same time. This is the Paulsen Attack position, the starting point of the main theory. White must decide how to meet it. The two main answers are 6. a3 and 6. ♗d3, the gambit of the Milner-Barry Variation, and the quieter 6. ♗e2 is also playable.

The move 6. a3 prepares b4, and Black answers 6... c4, which fixes the queenside and takes the d3-square from White's bishop. After 7. ♘bd2 ♞a5 8. ♗e2 ♝d7 9. O-O ♞e7 10. ♖b1 ♞f5 both sides have a plan. White wants to play b4 and, after the exchange on b3, to use the open b-file, while Black keeps the pressure on d4 and waits for a chance to play ... f6. The position is roughly equal.

The Milner-Barry Gambit is the sharpest answer to 5... ♛b6. After 6. ♗d3 cxd4 7. cxd4 ♝d7 8. O-O Black can take the pawn with 8... ♞xd4 9. ♘xd4 ♛xd4, and after 10. ♘c3 ♛xe5 11. ♖e1 White has a lead in development against the king on e8 in return for two pawns. The line is dynamically balanced and is well known for its tactical hazards: the bishop on d3 points at h7, the rook on e1 at the e-file, and Black must find the right moves to complete development.

Black can develop the bishop first with 5... ♝d7, the Euwe Variation. The queen stays flexible, and ... ♞ge7 and ... ♞f5 bring more pressure on d4. White develops easily with ♗e2 and O-O, and keeps a small edge.

The quiet 6. ♗e2 avoids the gambit lines. After 6... cxd4 7. cxd4 ♞ge7 8. ♘c3 ♞f5 the position is roughly equal, and the game is a fight about the d4-pawn: White needs to keep it protected without tying down the pieces, and Black needs a plan beyond the pressure.

The Nimzowitsch System 4. ♘f3 develops the knight first and keeps c3 in reserve. After 4... ♞c6 5. ♗d3 ♝d7 6. O-O ♞ge7 7. ♖e1 ♞f5 White has developed quickly and keeps a solid chain, while Black's pieces aim at d4. White has a small edge.

White has other fourth moves. The move 4. dxc5, the Steinitz Variation, gives up the center and Black regains the pawn with ... ♞c6 and ... ♝xc5. The system 4. ♘f3, the Nimzowitsch System, develops first and keeps c3 in reserve, and 4. ♕g4, the Nimzowitsch Attack, hits g7 at once. Black can also play 3... ♝d7, the Extended Bishop Swap, to bring the bishop out before the pawn chain is complete, and 4. c3 ♛b6, the Wade Variation, is a different move order for the same queen sortie.

Tarrasch Variation 3. ♘d2

White avoids the pin of the Winawer by developing the knight to d2. The move supports e4 and keeps the c-pawn free to play c3, but the knight blocks the bishop on c1 and the queen's side development is slower.

Black has many replies. 3... ♞f6, the Closed Variation, and 3... c5, the Open System, are the main ones. 3... ♞c6, the Guimard Defense, 3... a6, the Modern System, 3... ♝e7, the Morozevich Variation, and 3... dxe4, which reaches the Rubinstein Variation, are less common but all well established.

Closed Variation 3... ♞f6

After 3... ♞f6 4. e5 the knight must retreat to d7, and the structure is the classical French chain. White builds a broad center with ♗d3, c3 and ♘e2, and Black attacks it with ... c5 and ... ♞c6.

The knight goes to e2, not f3, so that the pawn on d4 is supported and the knight on d2 can use f3 later. After 7... cxd4 8. cxd4 Black can choose 8... ♞b6, the Leningrad Variation, which pressures d4 from the queenside, or the central break 8... f6. A second line, 6... b6, is the Botvinnik Variation, preparing ... ♝a6 to exchange the light-squared bishops.

The central break 8... f6 undermines the head of the chain. After 9. exf6 ♞xf6 10. ♘f3 ♝d6 11. O-O O-O Black has active pieces, a bishop aimed at h2 and a free game, while White has the more compact structure and keeps a small edge. White's plan is ♘c3 and ♗g5 to pin the knight, or ♕b3 to pressure b7.

The move 5. f4 is the Pawn Center Variation. White builds a chain f4, e5 and d4, supports d4 with c3 and g3, and keeps the knights ready for f3. Black attacks the center with ... c5, ... ♞c6 and ... ♛b6, and aims for a break with ... f6 or ... g5 after the king's bishop is developed. White has a clear space advantage, but the kingside is weakened by the advance of the pawns.

Open System 3... c5

With 3... c5 Black attacks d4 immediately. White usually takes on d5, and after the recapture Black has an isolated pawn on d5 but good piece play.

After 5. ♘gf3 ♞c6 6. ♗b5 ♝d6 7. dxc5 ♝xc5 8. O-O ♞ge7 the knight on e7 prevents the pin by ♗g5. White plays 9. ♘b3 to hit the bishop and then ♘bd4. Black's pawn on d5 is isolated, but it controls the center and the pieces are active, and the game is roughly equal, with a small edge to White. The usual battle is between the isolated pawn and the pieces: White hopes to exchange pieces and show that the pawn is weak, and Black hopes to keep the pieces and attack on the kingside.

Black can recapture with the queen, the Chistyakov Defense, to avoid the isolated pawn. After 5. ♘gf3 cxd4 6. ♗c4 ♛d6 7. O-O ♞f6 8. ♘b3 ♞c6 9. ♘bxd4 ♞xd4 10. ♘xd4 a6 the pawn structure is healthy and the position is balanced, but the queen has spent a lot of time, and White keeps the lead in development and a small edge.

Guimard Defense 3... ♞c6

The Guimard Defense develops the knight at once and does not commit the c-pawn. It allows White to gain space, but Black avoids the lines of the Closed Variation.

After 4. ♘gf3 ♞f6 5. e5 ♞d7 6. ♘b3 White has a clear space advantage. The knight on b3 supports d4, and Black must find a way to attack the chain with ... f6 or ... a5. The line is rarer than the Closed Variation, and White's edge is solid.

The Modern System 3... a6 prepares ... c5 and ... ♞f6 while avoiding the exchange exd5. The Morozevich Variation 3... ♝e7 develops the bishop and keeps the pawn structure flexible, and 3... f5, the Haberditz Variation, is an aggressive attempt to take over the center. All three are used as surprise weapons.

Winawer Variation 3. ♘c3 ♝b4

The move 3. ♘c3 defends e4 and develops a piece, and it gives Black three principal choices: the pin 3... ♝b4, the Winawer, the solid 3... ♞f6, the Classical Variation, and the exchange 3... dxe4, the Rubinstein Variation.

The Winawer is the most combative of the three, and it creates the most unbalanced positions of the French. Black pins the knight and threatens to double White's pawns.

The bishop pins the knight to the king along the diagonal b4-e1, and Black threatens ... dxe4 and ... ♝xc3+. White's usual answer is 4. e5, which gains space and fixes the structure. Other fourth moves are 4. exd5, the Delayed Exchange Variation, 4. ♗d2, the Fingerslip Variation, 4. ♗d3, the Kondratiyev Variation, and the gambit 4. ♘e2.

Advance Variation 4. e5

After 4. e5 c5 5. a3 ♝xc3+ 6. bxc3 the structure is set: White has doubled c-pawns and a pawn chain c3, d4, e5, and Black has given up the dark-squared bishop. Black develops the king's knight to e7, since e5 has taken the square f6 away, and from there it can go to f5 or g6.

White has the bishop pair, space and the attacking chances on the kingside, and Black has a better pawn structure on the queenside and a target on c3 and d4. The main plans are the advance ♕g4 against g7, and the slower ♘f3 with a4 and ♗d2. Black develops with ... ♛a5, ... ♞bc6 and ... ♝d7 and tries to fix the queenside with ... c4.

The move 7. ♕g4 attacks g7 and is the most testing. After 7... ♛c7 White can take two pawns with 8. ♕xg7 ♜g8 9. ♕xh7. This is the Poisoned Pawn Variation, and after 9... cxd4 10. ♘e2 the lines are complicated: White has won two pawns and Black one, so White is a pawn up, but Black has a lead in development, the open g-file and pressure on the weak pawns on the c-file.

Black can ignore the threat with 7... O-O, the Warsaw Variation, since 8. ♗d3 f5 meets the attack with a counter. The sequence 9. exf6 ♜xf6 10. ♗g5 ♜f7 11. ♘e2 ♞bc6 leads to a position in which White has the bishop pair but Black has active pieces and a safe king, and the position is roughly balanced.

The quieter 7. ♘f3, the Positional Variation, develops the knight first and avoids weakening the kingside. After 7... ♞bc6 8. a4 ♛a5 9. ♗d2 c4 10. ♗e2 ♝d7 the pawn structure is closed on the queenside, and White has a small edge. The bishop pair and the kingside space are White's assets, while Black's plan is to prepare ... f6 to open the center. The move 7. h4, aiming at h5 and a direct attack, is also played.

The move 7. h4 prepares h5 to gain space on the kingside and to make g7 harder to defend. After 7... ♛c7 8. h5 h6 9. ♖b1 Black has stopped the pawn but has weakened g6, and the rook on b1 attacks b7. White has a small edge, and Black must complete development without losing time.

Delayed Exchange 4. exd5

In the Exchange line of the Winawer, White gives up the tension at once. The symmetrical structure after 4. exd5 exd5 offers few winning chances, and the position is roughly equal. White can play 5. ♗d3 ♞e7 6. ♕h5, the Canal Attack, to take the initiative, and Black must meet it with care. In the line shown Black develops with ... ♞c6, ... ♞ge7 and ... ♝f5 and trades the light-squared bishops, so that the structure is easy to play for both sides.

Alekhine Gambit 4. ♘e2

With 4. ♘e2 White avoids the doubled pawns, since after ... ♝xc3+ the knight recaptures. After 4... dxe4 5. a3 ♝xc3+ 6. ♘xc3 Black has won a pawn and plays 6... ♞c6, but White has the bishop pair and a lead in development. This is the Alekhine Gambit, and the position is roughly balanced.

Classical Variation 3. ♘c3 ♞f6

The Classical Variation is the most direct way to challenge the center. The knight attacks the pawn on e4 and prepares ... dxe4, and White has to choose between solving the problem with e5, which wins space, or pinning the knight with ♗g5.

The moves 4. e5 and 4. ♗g5 lead to the two main structures. The move 4. exd5 exd5 is the Delayed Exchange and leads to a symmetrical position, and 4. ♗d3, the Swiss Variation, and 4. ♗e3, the Henneberger Variation, are less common.

Steinitz Variation 4. e5

After 4. e5 ♞fd7 White has space, and Black must attack the chain. White can support it with 5. f4, creating a strong pawn center, or avoid the weakening of the kingside with 5. ♘ce2. The move 5. ♕g4, the Gledhill Attack, is a sharp alternative.

This is the Boleslavsky Variation. White develops with ♘f3, ♗e3 and ♕d2, castles long and defends d4 with all the pieces. Black plays ... c5, ... ♞c6 and ... ♝e7, castles short and prepares ... a6 and ... b5 for counterplay on the queenside. White has a clear space advantage, and Black has the pressure on d4, so a long fight is ahead.

The knight goes to e2 in the Shirov-Anand Variation. The move supports d4 and frees the c-pawn to play c3, so that the center is held by the c-pawn instead of by the knight. After 5... c5 6. c3 ♞c6 7. f4 ♛b6 8. ♘f3 f6 Black has opened the game with the pawn break and has full counterplay, so the position is roughly equal, with a slight edge for White.

Main line 4. ♗g5

The pin 4. ♗g5 puts pressure on the knight and, through it, on the center. Black has three principal replies: the solid 4... ♝e7, the Normal Variation, the exchange 4... dxe4, the Burn Variation, and the counter-pin 4... ♝b4, the McCutcheon Variation.

The bishop attacks the knight on f6, which defends both d5 and e4, so Black has to decide how to handle the pin. The three replies lead to completely different games.

After 4... ♝e7 5. e5 ♞fd7 6. ♗xe7 ♛xe7 White plays 7. ♕d2, castles long and builds a chain with f4. Black castles short and attacks with ... c5 and ... ♞c6, and the queen on e7 stands behind the knight, ready to support ... f6. White is slightly better. Alternatives for White at move seven are 7. ♗d3, the Tarrasch Variation, 7. ♘b5, the Alapin Variation, and 7. ♕g4, the Pollock Variation, which attacks g7 at once.

In the Pollock Variation the queen attacks g7 at once. Black castles, since the pawn on e5 is defended and the king is safe, and White castles long and prepares f4 and ♘f3. The position is roughly equal, and the game is a battle between the space of White and the pressure of Black on d4.

The move 6. h4, the Alekhine-Chatard Attack, attacks the bishop on g5 at once. After 6... ♝xg5 7. hxg5 ♛xg5 Black has taken a pawn, the Albin-Chatard Gambit, and White gets the open h-file and attacking chances with 8. ♘h3 ♛e7 9. ♘f4. White has enough compensation, and the position is balanced. Black has other replies at move six: 6... c5, the Breyer Variation, 6... a6, the Maroczy Variation, 6... f6, the Teichmann Variation, and 6... O-O, the Spielmann Variation.

The Burn Variation, 4... dxe4, gives up the central tension at once. After 5. ♘xe4 ♝e7 6. ♗xf6 ♝xf6 7. ♘f3 O-O Black has solved the problem of the pinned knight, has the pair of bishops and has a solid position. The pawn break ... e5 is a standard way to free the game, and after 8. ♗d3 ♞c6 9. c3 e5 the position is roughly equal. Black can also recapture with 6... gxf6, the Morozevich Line, but that is a sharper choice.

The McCutcheon Variation, 4... ♝b4, counter-pins the knight and leads to sharp positions. After 5. e5 h6 6. ♗d2 ♝xc3 7. bxc3 ♞e4 8. ♕g4 ♚f8 Black's king has stepped aside to avoid losing g7, and the position is complicated. White has a small edge. The alternative 6. ♗h4 is the Bernstein Variation, and 6. exf6 is the Chigorin Variation.

Rubinstein Variation 3. ♘c3 dxe4

In the Rubinstein Variation Black releases the central tension at once. After 3... dxe4 4. ♘xe4 the aim is a simple, healthy position in which the bishop on c8 gets out and the pawn structure has no obvious weaknesses. The price is a little space, and Black must be careful to complete development before White's pieces become active.

The move 4... ♞d7 is the Blackburne Defense. It prepares ... ♞gf6 so that the strong knight on e4 can be exchanged without doubling Black's pawns. After 5. ♘f3 ♞gf6 6. ♘xf6+ ♞xf6 7. ♗d3 Black frees the game with 7... c5, and after 8. dxc5 ♝xc5 9. ♕e2 the pawn structure is symmetrical, with a small lead in development for White. White's plans are ♗g5, O-O-O and the pressure on the e-file. The position is roughly equal with a slight edge for White.

The Fort Knox Variation takes a different route. The bishop goes to d7 and then c6, where it puts pressure on e4 and takes part in the defense of the king, and the pieces follow with ... ♞d7 and ... ♞gf6. The setup is very solid, but White has more space and keeps a small edge. The other main lines are 7. ♘e5, the Capablanca Line, after 4... ♞d7 5. ♘f3 ♞gf6 6. ♘xf6+ ♞xf6, and the Kasparov Attack 7. c3 in the same position reached through 3. ♘d2. Black has other fourth moves such as 4... ♛d5, the Maric Variation, and the gambit 4... e5, the Ellis Gambit.

Exchange Variation 3. exd5

White resolves the tension with 3. exd5 exd5. The pawn structure becomes symmetrical, the bishop on c8 is free and Black's main problem disappears. The line has a reputation for being drawish, but the positions are not always equal, and White can play for a small edge by using the extra move and by careful piece placement.

A typical game goes 4. ♘f3 ♝d6 5. ♗d3 ♞f6 6. O-O O-O 7. ♗g5 ♝g4 8. ♘bd2 ♞bd7 9. c3 c6, and both sides have developed in the same way. The pins on f3 and f6 mirror each other, and the game is decided by small improvements: the rooks go to e1 and e8, the queens go to c2 and c7, and a mistake in piece placement gives the opponent the e-file. The position is equal.

White can avoid symmetry with 4. c4, the Monte Carlo Variation. The move challenges d5 at once. After 4... ♞f6 5. ♘c3 ♝e7 6. ♘f3 O-O 7. ♗e2 ♞c6 8. O-O the position is balanced, and the typical structure after the exchange on c4 is an isolated pawn on d4, which White compensates for with active pieces. Black can also meet the Exchange with an early ... ♝d6 and ... ♞e7, keeping the structure flexible. The related lines 3. ♘c3 ♞f6 4. exd5 exd5 5. ♗g5 (Svenonius Variation) and 3. ♘c3 ♝b4 4. exd5 lead to similar positions.

Other second and third moves

White has several ways to avoid the main lines. Most of them give Black an easy game, and a few are used as surprise weapons.

King's Indian Attack 2. d3

The move 2. d3 avoids the theory of the principal variations. White builds a flexible setup with ♘d2, ♘gf3, g3, ♗g2 and O-O, and prepares the advance e5 at a good moment. The structure is the French pawn chain in reverse, and the plans are close to those of the King's Indian Defense with colors reversed.

Black can respond in the center with ... d5, ... ♞f6, ... c5 and ... ♞c6, then develop the bishop and castle. The position is roughly equal, and White's plan is e5 followed by a kingside attack with ♘f1, ♘g3, h4 and ♕d2, while Black counters on the queenside with ... b5 and ... ♝b7. If White delays e5, Black can take the initiative with ... d4.

Other lines

The move 2. ♕e2 is the Chigorin Variation, and 2. f4 is the La Bourdonnais Variation. 2. ♘f3 and 2. ♘c3 usually transpose to the main lines after 2... d5. Gambit ideas at the third move include 3. ♗e3, the Alapin Gambit, 3. ♗d3, the Schlechter Variation, and 3. c4, the Diemer-Duhm Gambit. Black has a few alternatives at move two, such as 2... c5, the Franco-Sicilian Defense, and 2... a6, the St. George Defense. These are rare and have little theoretical weight, but both can surprise a player who knows only the main lines.

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