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The French Defense

Introduction: Part II
 

The French Defense may very well be the first hypermodern defense.  The basic idea is to allow White to establish himself in the center, then counter-attack with pieces and the thematic pawn breaks ...c5 (essential) and ...f6.  Black often ends up grabbing space on the queenside, while trying to weather White's kingside attack. Black endures a cramped position, hoping to get to a winning endgame, while White hopes to capitalize on Black's constricted position and the poor development of his queen-bishop.  As the saying goes though, there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip!

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5

In Part III of this introduction we'll look at alternatives for White on the 2nd move.  For now, let's concentrate on the diagrammed position, from which we'll introduce you to a smorgasbord of possible variations and positions.  Remember: this is just a sampling of the potential in the French and not intended to be an exhaustive treatise.

Most of Black's problems in the French stem from the lack of development of the queen-bishop and White's space advantage on the kingside.  White usually tries to take advantage of these factors by coupling a kingside attack with a cramping bind in the center.  White has three basic concepts on which to base his choice of third move: (A) simplification with 3.exd5, the Exchange Variation; (B) establishing the central bind with 3.e5, the Advance variation, and (C) maintaining the tension in the center while continuing his development - with moves like 3.Nc3, leading possibly to the Classical Variation or the Winawer/Nimzowitsch Variation, or 3.Nd2, the Tarrasch Variation.  The other possibility here is 3.Be3, the Alapin Variation.  We'll look at all of those variations in detail in future installments of this series, but right now lets focus on those three motifs:

                    (A) simplification with 3.exd5, the Exchange Variation;
                    (B) establishing the central bind with 3.e5, the Advance variation, and
                    (C) maintaining the tension in the center while continuing his development

(A) simplification with 3.exd5, the Exchange Variation

White hopes to capitalize on the advantage of the first move.  The symmetrical position that arises after 3...exd5 poses Black few problems; his troublesome queen-bishop is no longer blocked by a pawn on e6, eliminating the need for the ...c5 pawn break so important in other lines of the French, and he has an equal share of space in the center.  What's more Black can choose to avoid continuing symmetrically, and seek to grab the initiative.  In my French Defense database, Black actually scores 53% in the Exchange variation, far higher than most other openings.

Here's a typical example of how this line can develop:  1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Bd3 Bd6 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Nge7 7.0-0 Bg4 8.Re1 Qd7 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.h3 Bf5

Click here to download 50 games in the Exchange Variation taken from international competition by titled players over the past few years.
 

(B) establishing the central bind with 3.e5, the Advance variation

The Advance Variation has made something of a comeback in recent years, as White tries to maintain the pawn chain against Black's counterattacks. The thematic break for Black is 3...c5, the only real move for Black to consider here, as he must strike back immediately before White can consolidate his central pawn structure.  As Kallai says "One should first develop the pawns and then the knights!" As a general guideline, break moves are best played against the base of the pawn chain, and the base of White's pawn chain is at d4.  White now usually tries to keep the pawn chain intact by 4.c3, and Black normally maintains the pressure on d4 with 4...Nc6.  The plans for both sides can be seen most easily by looking at the position with the pieces removed:

Notice that White's central pawn chain points towards the kingside?  That's where White's play should be, combined with maintaining control over the e5 square.  Black, on the other hand, seeks play along the soon to be opened c-file, and an exchange of his problem piece, the queen bishop.  Another currently popular plan for White involves further restricting Blacks piece's with a3 and b4, with Black continuing to pressure d4 while seeking to control the c-file.

Here's a typical example: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3 a5 7.Bd3 Bd7 8.0-0 a4

Click here to download 50 games in the Advance Variation taken from international competition by titled players over the past few years.
 

(C) maintaining the tension in the center while continuing his development

White has two principle ways of pursuing these goals: (C1) 3.Nc3 which, depending on how Black responds, leads either to (C1a) 3...Nf6, the Classical Variation; or (C1b) 3...Bb4, the Winawer (Nimzowitsch) variation; and (C2) 3.Nd2, the Tarrasch Variation.

(C1a) 3Nc3 Nf6, the Classical Variation.  From this point other lines might also arise, including the Rubinstein, Burn, Steinitz, and MacCutcheon variations, all of which will be covered  in this series.  Here we will look briefly only at the position after 4.Bg5 Be7.

Now White faces a typical decision: allowing simplification (which usually favors Black) or dissipating the tension in a more favorable way - creating the pawn chain d4-e5, which tends to keep Black's position cramped.  Play typically continues 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 (You want wild & wooly? Try 6.h4, the Alekhine-Chatard Attack!  Click here to download 25 games in the Alekhine-Chatard Variation taken from international competition by titled players over the past few years.) Qxe7

White next moves 7.f4 to reinforce e5, which will otherwise become weak after Black's pawn break ...c5.  White has a lot of space, can develop freely, and maintain his cramping center.  Black will attempt to attack White's center with the thematic pawn breaks ...c5 & ...f6, and take control of the files which open up, or attack the queenside with ...c5, ...c4, ...Qb6-b4, ...Nd7-b6-a4, ...Nc6-a5. 

Here's a typical example:  1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.f4 a6 8.Nf3 c5 9.Qd2 Nc6

Click here to download 50 games in the Classical Variation taken from international competition by titled players over the past few years.
 

(C1b) 3Nc3 Bb4, the Winawer (Nimzowitsch) variation

The Winawer is a sharp yet sound way for Black to fight for the initiative.  3...Bb4 is a double-edged move which pins the e4-pawn's defender, and threatens to double White's pawns on the c-file as well.  White's pawn push e5 no longer finds a target on f6, although Black's bishop - one of his best defenders - has left the kingside.  The usual exchange ...Bxc3 leaves a sharply unbalanced position, with points of attack for both players.  White attacks on the kingside, while Black focuses on White's weakened queenside pawns.  Play usually continues 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7

White now has several options: he can play the aggressive 7.Qg4, 7.h4, or the more positional moves 7.Nf3 or 7.a4 

Click here to download 50 games in the Winawer Variation taken from international competition by titled players over the past few years.
 

(C2) 3.Nd2, the Tarrasch Variation

White takes a slower, more positional approach, attempting first to limit Black's counterplay.  The Tarrach's reputation is one of a solid, safe, yet less aggressive method of combating the French.  White avoids the pin of his queen-knight seen in the Winawer, while still supporting the king-pawn.  Black has two main ways to respond: (C2a) 3...Nf6, and (C2b) 3...c5.

(C2a) 3...Nf6  Black invites 4.e5, allowing White to set up the cramping pawn chain, and establishing a permanent imbalance in the position.  The fight then hinges on whether or not White can consolidate his center.  Black of course, will try to undermine the center with the pawn breaks ...c5 and possibly ...f6.  There follows 4...Nfd7 and now White most often responds with either 5.Bd3 or 5.f4.  The latter move has the merits of reinforcing e5 and grabbing space on the kingside, where White wants to attack anyway.  Usual plans for White in this position are to place his knights on f3 & either e2 or h3, the bishops to d3 & perhaps e3, and castle kingside.  Black strikes back at the base of the center pawn chain with 5...c5.

A typical set-up might be: 1.e4 e6  2.d4 d5  3.Nd2 Nf6  4.e5 Nfd7  5.c3 c5  6.f4 Nc6  7.Ndf3 Qb6  8.g3 cxd4  9.cxd4 Bb4+ .

Click here to download 50 games in this line of the Tarrasch Variation taken from international competition by titled players over the past few years.
 

(C2b) 3...c5  Black opens the position in the center, releasing the tension and frequently getting an isolated queen-pawn in the deal.  His pieces get developed more easily in this line, and Black has active counterplay.  White usually replies with either 4.Ngf3 or 4.exd5.

Here's a typical setup: 1.e4 e6  2.d4 d5  3.Nd2 c5  4.exd5 exd5  5.Ngf3 Nc6  6.Bb5 Bd6  7.dxc5 Bxc5  8.0-0 Nge7  9.Nb3 Bd6

Click here to download 50 games in this line of the Tarrasch Variation taken from international competition by titled players over the past few years.
 

In the next part of this introduction, we'll look at a couple of alternatives for White on the 2nd move, and some transpositional possibilities for Black.

Next: Introduction - Part III

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