French Defense

The idea

After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5, White has to decide what to do about the attack on e4. 3.e5 is the Advance, which closes the center; 3.Nc3 leads to the Winawer (3...Bb4) or the Classical (3...Nf6); 3.Nd2 is the Tarrasch; 3.exd5 is the Exchange.

In the closed lines the pawn chains point at opposite wings. Black hits the base of White's chain with ...c5 and the head of it with ...f6, while White uses the extra space for a kingside attack. The French has one well-known problem: the light-squared bishop on c8 is stuck behind the pawn on e6. Freeing it, or trading it, is often part of Black's plan.

Strategic and stubborn. Black accepts less space in return for a solid center and clear counter-play. Games are often long and full of pawn breaks rather than early tactics.

Players who like closed positions, plans and patient defense. It also suits anyone who wants to avoid the sharp open games that come after 1...e5.

With your pawns on e6 and d5, the f7 and h7 squares can become targets. Watch for Bxh7+ sacrifices once White's bishop, knight and queen point at your king.

The main line, move by move

1. 1.e4 · White takes space in the center with a pawn and opens lines for the queen and the bishop on f1. It is the most direct way to begin.
2. 1...e6 · Black prepares ...d5, so the pawn on e4 will be challenged with full support. This is the French Defense: solid and a little cramped, because the pawn on e6 shuts in the bishop on c8.
3. 2.d4 · White puts a second pawn in the center and takes the space Black allowed. Both of White's center pawns are now in place.
4. 2...d5 · Black strikes at e4 at once, backed by the pawn on e6 and the queen. White must decide what to do with the pawn: push it, trade it, or defend it with a knight.
5. 3.e5 · White pushes past and gains space, and the pawn on e5 takes f6 away from Black's knight. The center is locked, so Black will attack the chain at its base with ...c5; this is the Advance Variation.

Next moves in book

• 2.Nc3 · Queen's Knight
• 2.b3 · Horwitz Attack
• 2.b4 · Banzai-Leong Gambit
• 2.c4 · Steiner Variation
• 2.Qe2 · Chigorin Variation
• 2.d3 · King's Indian Attack
• 2.d4 · Normal Variation
• 2.e5 · Steinitz Attack
• 2.Bb5 · Bird Invitation
• 2.f4 · La Bourdonnais Variation
• 2.Nf3 · Knight Variation
• 2.g3 · Réti-Spielmann Attack

A famous game

• Levitsky vs Marshall Breslau, 1912

Related openings

• Sicilian Defense B20–B99 · 327 named lines
• Caro-Kann Defense B10–B19 · 92 named lines
• Alekhine Defense B02–B05 · 53 named lines
• Scandinavian Defense B01 · 42 named lines