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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French defence vs Sicilian defence
I'm beginner chess player who like aggressive play. I often counter e4 with e6(french defence) or c5 (sicilian defence). But I still don't know what's detail pros and cons with these openings. Can ...
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How is White compensated in these lines of the Milner-Barry gambit?
After White's sixth move 6. Bd3 in the Milner-Barry gambit line, White hasn't yet truly offered his pawn up for sacrifice yet. It's for this reason that Black will play cxd4, but not continue the ...
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Reference for good French Defense games?
I want to learn this opening right now, and I was wondering what are some good games that have been played in these two openings. I prefer games in between modern players so I can relate to the game. ...
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Does the French Defense have any variation similar to the King's Indian Defense opening
I recently won with the French Defense. Does Nh3 early on have any benefits?
[Fen ""]
[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2016.08.10"]
[White "1itsamovie"]
[Black "anandsadasivam"]
[Result ...
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When should black make the cxd4 move in French?
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5
Following the structures with black pawn on c5, there is a tension in the center. When does black usually decide to take the d4 pawn, what is usually the trigger?
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What is wrong with f2-f4 against the French Defense?
[fen ""]
[Startply "3"]
[Title "2.f4 against the French Defense"]
1.e4 e6 2.f4
What is so obviously wrong with this approach? I ask because it is not even mentioned in the complete Black repertoire ...
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Why not 6.Ng3 against the French Rubinstein?
[fen ""]
[Title "6.Ng3 against the French Rubinstein"]
[Startply "11"]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Ng3
What is so obviously wrong with the move 6.Ng3 against the French ...
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What is a good plan for white against the Rubinstein variation in the French defense?
I always play the Tarrasch variation against the French defense and I have quite some good results with it.
Nevertheless, when black exchanges on e4 and the game transposes into the Rubinstein ...
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Explain the f6 break in the French defense
I'm really struggling to understand this move to be honest. Even after carefully reading a similar question posted here, I still just don't get it and, more importantly, when it's good to play the f6 ...
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Castling in the French Defense
How do you decide which way to castle?
It seems castling kingside can be dangerous because of white's extra kingside space he often gets in the French Defense. Also most of my pieces are naturally on ...
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French defense plans
I'm working with my 1300 USCF kid on his opening repertoire. In the French defense, I have a few questions/problems I'm trying to resolve:
1) In many of the closed lines (after e5) we go after ...
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Why is the French defence not played at the highest level?
I am a French defence player and I enjoy playing almost all the lines (Tarrasch, Winawer, advance variation, ...) because I think the play that follows the opening suits my style and I feel very ...
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How does the "French Defense, Winawer Variation, Fingerslip Variation" get its name?
Why is this particular iteration of the "French Defense, Winawer Variation" called the "Fingerslip Variation"?
[fen "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. ...
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How can the french opening be avoided?
I'm really not good at the french when I'm with white, is there a good way to avoid it and get my opponent outside of their preparation?
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What is the best way to beat a French? [closed]
I have a tournament game tomorrow, and I'm white against a Pirc/French guy. What is the easiest way, learnable in 10 mins or so, to play against it.
In addition to the Pirc question, I play the ...
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How can Black free his game?
What are Black's long term plans in below pawn structure?
How can Black free his game?
The position arose from the Rubinstein variation of the French defense:
[Title "White to move"]
[fen "r2rb1k1/...
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Why is the f6 pawn break in Advanced French so important for black?
I am new to the French (so forgive me if the question seems elementary).
I've just come across the pawn break ...f6 for black in the French advance variation, and I find the pawn break quite dubious ...
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What are books about the French Defence which feature a Black repertoire that tends to lead to solid/positional/closed/slow/quiet/strategic positions?
I am a 1750 Elo player with a very positional, quiet and strategic style of play.
I am looking for one or more books about the French Defence which fits these 3 conditions:
It must offer a complete ...
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Aggressive Attacking Lines for Black in the French Defence Exchange Variation
I have recently taken a liking to the French Defence as black because I enjoy the counter-attacking options that black has to undermine white's center in the Tarrasch, Advance, and 3. Nc3 variations. ...
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How should black develop the dark squared bishop in the advance variation of the French Defense?
The following is the French defence, advance variation:
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 *
My question is how Black should play his King's Bishop. Any time that Bishop moves the White Queen can go ...
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French :: exchange variation - but not quite
I had the following in a game
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5
expecting White to follow with Nc3 leading to the Two Knight's Variation of the French
Instead, the game continuing with:
[FEN ""]
1. ...
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1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 - how should Black respond?
I had White deviate from the French main line in a blitz game by playing:
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e6 2. Nc3
Since this line is not discussed in the Wikipedia article on French defence I am thinking that ...
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How should Black defend against the Steinitz attack?
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e6 2. e5
This line of attack seems to break so many opening theory principles (don't move same piece twice, don't overextend, develop minor pieces ASAP) that I am surprised it's not ...
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Are there known opening gambit lines for black in the French defence?
I play the French defence with both colours (white and black) and generally play any of the orthodox main line openings (there are many eg Advance, Exchange, Classical,Tarrasch etc giving rise to many ...
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Is the French Defence good against 1.e4 for tactical play?
I usually play 1...e6 (French Defence) against 1.e4.
I love to play tactical games. Is the French opening good for me? My primary aim in a chess game is to develop an attack against the opponent's ...
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playing C00 French:KIA `2. d3 d5`
When played C00 French:KIA 2. d3 d5, I choose to move my pawn 8. ... b4 to reply 8. Bd2.
After that, 'the battle at early game is held' with 9. a3 bxa3 10. Nxa3 Bxa3 11. Rxa3 and at the end of game, ...
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Reply for C11 French/Steinitz after `5. Nf3 c5`
When playing C11 French/Steinitz, 6. dxc5 Bxc5 is chosen. Even in Shredder, it's most played in C11 French/Steinitz. What should White best reply after 6. dxc5 Bxc5??
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. ...
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French Defense Exchange variation - Qh5?
[fen ""]
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Bd3 Bd6 5. Nc3 Ne7 6. Qh5
I played this as white, and my last move seem to bother my opponent a lot. So I'd like to know if 5. ... Ne7 is correct and if my ...
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A variant in the French defence advance variation
Consider the following beginning, quite typical of the advance variation of the French defense:
[fen ""]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3
On what I have seen on the web, the ...
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French or Caro Kann?
I find the French more aggressive, as black gets easy queenside play with pieces and generally a pawn avalanche. However, my friend debates that the Caro is better than the French because the Caro ...
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Experiences with the Steiner Variation 1.e4 e6 2.c4!? in French?
How sound is 1.e4 e6 2.c4!?, the Steiner Variation in the French Defense, and would you actually recommend it? Does it work well in normal games, or is it more a surprise weapon for blitz?
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Playing the French Defense Exchange Variation
In the French Defense Advance Variation, 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 ..., there are some clear game plans for both sides, areas where you want a pawn break, where you want to attack, etc.
However, in the ...
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What is a good French-like defense against 1. d4?
I enjoy playing the French Defence as black against 1. e4, for the following reasons.
It often creates a closed position without wild tactics
It takes white away from the more familiar lines (1... e5 ...
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