French Defense
A solid, resilient answer to e4: hold the center with e6 and d5, then counterattack with c5.
Basics: the first moves of the French Defense
Prepare d5 with e6, then attack e4 with d5. After that, your main weapon in almost every line is the same: hit White's center with c5.
- The first two moves: e6 and d52 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
If White plays the knight to c3 or d2 (Rubinstein Variation)
Take on e4 and develop your knights via d7 and f6. After the knight trade, hit d4 with c5; then castle, play b6 and put the bishop on b7.
- Take on e4, knights to d7 and f63 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
- Trade knights, hit the center with c53 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
- Castle, b6 and bishop to b73 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
- If White brings the bishop to g52 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
- If White brings the bishop to d32 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
- Knight to d2: same plan1 neuer Zug🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
If White pushes the pawn to e5 (Advance Variation)
Attack d4, the base of the pawn chain: c5, knight c6, queen b6. If the bishop comes to d3, beware the trap: bishop d7 first!
- c5, knight c6 and queen b6: pressure on d43 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
- If the bishop goes to d3: bishop d7 first (beware the trap!)2 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
- If White gives up d4 (Milner-Barry Gambit)3 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
- If White plays a3: lock it with c43 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
- If White puts the bishop on e2: knight to f53 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
If White trades on d5 (Exchange Variation)
Symmetrical and calm: recapture with the e-pawn; bishop d6, knight e7 and castle. Your c8 bishop is free now.
- Recapture with the e-pawn: bishop d6, knight e7, castle4 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
- If White plays the knight to f3 first1 neuer Zug🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
- If White plays c42 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
If White doesn't play d4 on move two
Same spirit: claim the center with your d- and c-pawns and develop simply. If White plays passively, the center is yours.
- King's Indian Attack: d5, knight f6 and c53 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
- King's Indian Attack: knight c6, bishop e7 and castle3 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
- Knights to f3 and c3: push on with d43 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion
- If the queen comes to e2: c5 and g63 neue Züge🔒 Beende zuerst die vorige Lektion