Questions tagged [french-defense]
The French Defense begins with 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5. Black plans to play a solid setup and contest white's center with moves like c5 and Nc6. The biggest drawback to the French Defense is that black's light square bishop is hemmed in by the e6 pawn.
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Why does black have a higher win rate on Lichess in Exchange French?
In the following position, databases of master games show black has a higher win rate (Lichess says 20% for white vs 25% for black). Why does black have a higher win rate here?
[FEN ""]
[...
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Is the Advance section in Aagard & Ntirlis "Playing the French" outdated?
I'm looking into starting playing the French as Black, at 2000 Elo. "Playing the French" by Aagard & Ntirlis is 11 years old. Are the chapters on the Advance variation still solid, or ...
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Steinitz vs Mainline classical French
After
e4 e6
d4 d5
Nc3 Nf6
White has 2 main options, go for the Steinitz with 4) e5 or stick to the mainline or the Burn variation of the Classical French with Bg5. I want to know the differences ...
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How can white fight for the initiative in the open Tarrasch french
In the French tarrasch after black plays c5, how can white fight for the initiative. I played the closed tarrasch and really enjoy the positions reached after Korchnoi's gambit and want to reach a ...
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Classical french for a repertoire
I am crafting an E4 repertoire from scratch and I am looking for a dynamic approach for white against the french and have shortlisted the classical with Nc3, but here I am not sure whether the ...
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Why is **...c4** bad in the Classical French but not in the Advanced Paulsen Variation?
I have been learning the French Defense lately and there was one game where I was confused about the computer analysis.
Chess.com's engine says that 8... c4 is a mistake in the first game, while in ...
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Good response to the french defense [duplicate]
I am rated 1840 rapid(10+0) chess on chesscom and 1500 semi rapid (25+5) OTB.
I am preparing for a tournament and I want a suggestion regarding an approach to the french defense.
I tried playing the ...
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Is the French defense at a 3700 Elo level "completely refuted"?
...computers will never play the French defense against each other because the French defense at a 3700 Elo level is completely refuted...
IM Levy Rozman (YouTube around 3m08s)
Wait, what? I watched ...
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Are these depth-41 Stockfish evals the result of a horizon effect?
I was using lichess's analysis board for Stockfish's analysis of this line in the French:
[Title "French Defence, Steinitz Variation"]
[StartFlipped "0"]
[fen ""]
1. e4 ...
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Definition: What is meant by "bishop pair" in this context?
This is a screenshot from a chess.com tutorial.
In the final sentence it says,
White will often gain the bishop pair after 5. a3, with a sharp struggle ahead.
Obviously a3 is the pawn attacking the ...
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Are there any books on the Reti-Spielmann attack (1. e4 e6 2. g3)?
I tried looking for books on this online but I couldn't find any.
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Looking for a French exchange sub-variation where white castles long
I remember seeing a video a while back, which introduces this sub-variation to spice things up and to surprise black when they expect a dull draw game.
I don't think it has a name, and I can't quite ...
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In French Defense Advance Variation, why does white play an early f4?
Game.
First five moves:
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. f4
Why did white play f4?
My guesses:
To defend e5 in case if d4 falls.
Pawn pointing theory seems to indicate ...
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Is the Two Knights French the only variation where Black is unable to trade off the bad bishop?
I enjoy playing closed positions like the ones from the French Defense, but I despise having to play with the "bad bishop" on c8. I've been trying to research lines in the French where Black ...
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Development problems for black after f4 in French Defence
I am a French player as black. I am having problems in lines where white advances their e pawn and plays f4 to defend e5. I feel like the break on f6 is useless. I am afraid to castle short. My bad ...
user27142
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Franco-Sicilian Defense Theory [duplicate]
I am wondering what the main lines and point of the Franco-Sicilian Defense are for Black. I could barely find any theory about it online, and it' is my favorite opening as Black. As such, I am ...
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A weird way to play the Advance French?
I was watching Lichess TV the other day and I saw a game between two IMs go something like this:
[FEN ""]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Nc6 4.Nf3 f5 5.Bd3 Nh6 6.O-O Nf7
The computer evaluates this ...
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What's the point of the Two Knights French?
According to lichess, if Black simply goes 3...Nf6 against the Two Knights Variation, then the main line is 4.e5 Nfd7 5.d4. This is the exact same position as White would have reached if they'd played ...
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Why not 7.Bb4+ before playing Ne7 in the French Defence: Advance, Paulsen Attack?
After playing 5.Qb6 which I believe is the final move of the Advance variation of the French, my opponent played 6.a4. I followed with cxd4 and them by cxd4 as well. After that I couldn't remember the ...
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Why not 5.Bd2 in the French Defense: Exchange Variation?
After the initial moves of the French Defense: Exchange Variation, my opponent played 4.Bb4+. I followed with 5.Bd2, but after analyzing it, I saw that it is not in the master games opening on chess....
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How to play the French as White
Club opponents frequently play the French Defence again me, and I have trouble countering it with the Advance variation, since Black gets active pieces. Is there another good variation that avoids ...
user24344
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How this game is denoted as French Advanced Variation?
I had started playing this game with Scandinavian Defense opening. How it is been denoted as French Advanced variation as of 3rd move. Please refer to the attached screen-shot.
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What is the rationale behind Black playing e6 in so many openings?
I am new to this stack exchange, so apologies if this question doesn't fit here.
Though I have advanced through the game, and now have a somewhat respectable rapid rating of 1550, I have always found ...
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Seeking in-depth coverage of this French defense sideline
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nc6
I am seeking high-level, in-depth coverage of the above line.
I was able to find small coverage in ECO C and liked what I saw there.
Is there any book/...
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Good and in-depth books on Queen's Gambit and French Defense?
After following the studying advises of a Chess Stack Exchange fellow (PhishMaster, if you read this, thank you!) I'm about to break 2200 Lichess elo finally. I think it is time to truly and deeply ...
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What's the best way to learn the French?
Recently, I have been very attracted to the French defense, as I feel as though it is perfect for my style. However, I am aware that the French is highly theoretical, which is why I need a good, ...
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French defense: Key ideas on the Winawer
I am beginning to study the Winawer variation (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4), mainly because the only line I actually know against 3.Nc3 is the Rubinstein (3...dxe4), which is very dry and boring to my ...
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Flexibility over solidity? Defending against 1. e4
When defending against 1. e4, I'm a French Defense player. I enjoy the French Defense very much, and my win rate with it is fairly good. Lately, though, I've been wanting to explore new defenses, only ...
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Why is Leela so good at beating Stockfish in the French/Slav?
I notice Lc0 is especially good against Stockfish in French / Slav pawn structures. However, I don't understand why.
Here're a couple of games where Leela smoothly outplays Stockfish. Can anyone ...
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Why is the Exchange French considered drawish?
Why is the Exchange French considered so drawish since it is very early in the game, so it seems like there would be a lot more play left. A lot of lower rated players play it against me, although I ...
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Playing against the 2...c5 systems in the Kings Indian Attack against the French
[FEN ""]
1. e4 { Shockingly, I did not play 1.a3} 1... e6 2. d3 c5
This can still transpose into the main line with 3...d5. But I played a game with this yesterday, and my opponent played Nc6, d6, ...
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Central control disliked by engine in 1.e4 e6 2.d4 a6 3.c4
Recently I played a chess game that started with the moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 and then I played 3. c4 which according to Stockfish is inaccurate.
[fen ""]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6 3. c4
What is the ...
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Why isn't 5. f4 considered strong in the French Advance, main line?
Why isn't 5. f4 considered a strong move in the main line French Advance, after
[fen ""]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6
Everyone plays 5. Nf3 here, but isn't it logical to support e5 with ...
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Why is Na5 not played in this line of the French Defense, Advance Variation?
I find Na5 a good resource for black in this line of the french, profiting from the fact that white's b-pawn is binned to the bishop. As far as I can understand this position with my limited chess, I ...
user18196
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Winning plan for black in this line of French Defense: Advance Variation Main Line
I play the French Defense as both white and black. I often play this line with black suggested by Korchnoi if I am not wrong. I have found a way to prevent the sudden b4, via Bd7 (if 8.Rb1 Bd7 9.b4 ...
user18196
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What are good resources for how to play against the french as white? [closed]
I have been looking all over the web for a good way to counter the french defense, but nothing really helps. If you have any suggestions please tell me.
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Why doesn't white play Bd2 after this ...Qa5+?
I was looking at an analysis which shows this position ( from Bacrot - McShane 2018). At this point Black just played ...Qa5+, and the only moves that are analyzed for white are Kf2, c3 and Qd2.
This ...
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Morozevich variant in the Tarrasch french
I am confused with the Morozevich variant. I've seen quite a few funny games where they played ...g5, which gives very interesting moves, but I'm surprissed at not having seen any game in which white ...
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Comparison between best defense moves
I am a novice player. I have just come across the Sicilian defense on the Internet which is also stated as "aggressive defense". The French defense (1.e4 e6) also is good. Does the French defense ...
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Evaluation of this alternative to French exchange lines
I am a French Defense opening player from both sides. I don't like exchange line of the French Defense. They are drawish positions and my brain gets bored resulting in a positional or small mistake.
...
user16971
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Where can I find learning material on how to play the Alekhine-Chatard Gambit Declined?
I'm looking for materials on how to play the Alekhine-Chatard Gambit Declined. Which books and references are available for this variation? I'm looking for possible good moves to play for when this ...
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What is the main idea of the Morozevich variation in the French vs. the Tarrasch?
What is the main idea of the Morozevich variation in the French vs. the Tarrasch variation?
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Be7
In other words, how can Black benefit from the slightly unusual development ...
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Is there any published research into the Mighty Thor gambit against the French Defense?
Are there any annotations on the obscure Mighty Thor Gambit?
[FEN ""]
1.e4 e6 2.a3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.b4
(which is different from The Wing Gambit:)
[FEN ""]
1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.b4
At a ...
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Why is it a good idea to retreat the bishop into the pawn chain in this variation of the Caro Kann?
I am reading a book about the Caro-Kann defence.
In this position the author suggests playing 5...Bd7. (Although they assert that Bg6 is not a bad move either). In fact, the whole idea of playing Qb6 ...
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How could I have extracted an opening advantage in this Owen's defence game?
I played as white against Owen's defence from black, which is seen as being quite dubious. After 21 moves, we agreed to a draw.
My question is, how could white have extracted an opening edge here?
[...
user1108
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French Defense ECO C00 game for analysis
Here is the game for analysis which had been played between two matured person.
[fen ""]
1.e4 e6 2.d3 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.g4 a5 5.h3 a4 6.b3 a3 7.Nxa3 Bxa1 8.Bd2 Rxa3 9.Qxa1 f6 10.Qc1 Rxa2 11.Qb1 Ra3 12. ...
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White fights for equality in French classical?
Normally, using engines for any given opening I can find ways for White to maintain a slight edge into the middle game. By a "slight edge" I mean an evaluation of around +0.20
The exception to this ...
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Purpose of Tarrasch variation in French
What's the purpose of 3. Nd2 in the French opening? Does it not block the dark-squared bishop and offer space in center for black? What's the sharpest line for white in this variation?
[FEN ""]
1. ...
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ECO B40 game for analysis
Here is the game pgn,
[fen ""]
[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2017.02.15"]
[Round "?"]
[White "johnybravo001"]
[Black "anandsadasivam"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B40"]
[WhiteElo "827"]
[...
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What can be the variation name of this complete game which falls on ECO C02
When I had looked at
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessopening?eco=C02
there are 4,893 variations found for ECO C02.
Is this variation can have some name from among 4893 variation, sorry for ...