Exeter Chess Club: The French Defence for Beginners

French Defence: Key Variations for Young Players

Edition 2.8, January, 96

1. e4 e6, French Defence

Introduction
White avoids 2.d4
2. d4
- 2... d5
White avoids 3. Nc3
The main line 3. Nc3
- Section I: Black avoids the Winawer
  - 3... dxe4 The Rubinstein Variation
  - The Classical French 3... Nf6
    - 4. e5 The Steinitz Variation
    - 4. Bg5 The Classical Variation
- Section II: The Winawer Variation 3... Bb4

Introduction

The French is a solid and safe defence which you will certainly meet and may like to play yourself as a reply to 1. e4. In these notes I will give a quick run-down on the main variations of the French, and give an example line for each variation so you can get some idea of how to play for each side.

Variations I recommend for White include the Alekhine-Chatard Attack and the Alekhine Gambit against the Winawer. Black's best line is certainly the Winawer, but there are safer alternatives like the Classical or Burn Variations. The Tarrasch is a line for later on in your chess life, in my opinion.

White avoids 2.d4

2. d3 The King's Indian Attack

A way of getting into the King's Indian Reversed (KI Attack).

2... d5

3. Nd2

Prevents the exchange of Queens after 3...dxe4

3... Nf6 4. Ngf3

There are now two alternatives for Black: the old 4...c5 and the modern 4...b6.

4... c5 (Variation A)

The most common approach. One well-known line goes:

5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 b5 9. e5 Nd7 10. Nf1 a5 11. h4 b4 12. Bf4 a4 13. a3 bxa3 14. bxa3 Nd4

Black's attack on the Q-side/centre is easier, and at the moment has got further, but White is aiming at mate.

4... b6 (Variation B)

This is the modern approach.

5. g3 Bb7 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O c5 8. Re1 Nc6

...with Black perhaps planning to castle Queen's side.

Other ways of avoiding 2. d4 include the Tchigorin variation 2. Qe2, and the Two Knights' Variation with 2. Nf3.

2. Qe2, Tchigorin variation

Against the Tchigorin Black can play 2...c5 or even 2...e5. Play is often like the King's Indian Attack.

2. Nf3, Two Knights' Variation

The Two Knights' often transposes into Advance lines after

2...d5, 3. Nc3 Nf6, 4. e5 Nd7, 5. d4 c5

The main lines of the French start with

2. d4

When Black should reply

2... d5

White avoids 3. Nc3

Now the most common response is 3. Nc3 but White has alternatives:

3. Nd2 (Tarrasch Variation)

3. exd5 (Exchange Variation)

3. e5 (Advance Variation)

3. Nd2 The Tarrasch Variation

This avoids the pin ...Bb4 and keeps c3 open for a pawn. Black has two approaches - one open (3...c5), one closed (3...Nf6).

3... c5 (Variation A)

This secures free play at cost of an isolated pawn, although an open game may be more what White wants with 1. e4.

4. exd5 exd5

4... Qxd5 has been tried

And now White has two choices: to continue normal development, or to aim for immediate exchanges in the hope of a better endgame.

5.Ngf3 (Variation A1)

The main line, which may then go:

5... Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd6 7. O-O Nge7 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Nb3 Bd6 10. Nbd4 O-O 11. c3 Bg4 12. Qa4 Qd7 13. Be3 a6

White has isolated the d-pawn but the endgame is a long way off

5.Bb5+ Bd7 6. Qe2+ (Variation A2)

This is a way of trying to exchange off a few pieces , expecting a better endgame against a weak isolated d-pawn which will appear after dxc5.

3... Nf6 (Variation B)

This line gives positions much more typical of the rest of the French, and so I recommend this for Black.

4. e5 Nfd7

White again faces a basic choice: normal development with Bd3 or the more aggressive f4.

5.Bd3 (Variation B1)

5... c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4 Qb6

8... Nb6 is the Leningrad variation

9. Nf3 f6 10. exf6 Nxf6 11. O-O Bd6 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Re1 Bd7

The pawn structure is advantageous to White but Black's active pieces give excellent chances in this complex position.

5. f4 (Variation B2)

This is a much sharper try

5... c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ndf3 Qb6 8. g3 cxd4 9. cxd4 Bb4+ 10. Kf2 f5 11. Kg2

White has gained space at the cost of time.

The Advance Variation 3. e5

The Advance Variation is a straightforward line aiming at a space advantage on the K-side. The drawback is the loss of time meaning White goes on the defensive while Black hits at d4.

3... c5

The key counter-blow in the French

4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3

Now the familiar line is 5...Qb6 but 5...Bd7 is a good way of avoiding this.

5... Qb6 (Variation A)

White has a choice in this key position:

Bd3 (risky), Be2 (safe), or a3 (best).

6. Bd3 (A1, The Milner-Barry Gambit )

Sir Stuart Milner-Barry had an attacking flair, and devised this risky line.

6... cxd4 7. cxd4 Bd7

An ancient trap is 7...Nxd4 8 Nxd4 Qxd4 9. Bb5+ (DIAGRAM)

Diagram (trap)

winning

8. O-O Nxd4 9. Nxd4 Qxd4 10. Nc3

10... a6

(10... Qxe5 is risky but playable)

Now 11. Qe2 with the idea of following up with Rd1; White has some pressure but Black has prospects of a win with the extra pawn

6. Be2 (Variation A2)

6...cxd4 7. cxd4 Nge7

When two moves of the Nb1 are tried:

8. Na3 (Try 1)

this is perhaps the most logical way to

play

8... Nf5 9. Nc2 Bb4+ 10. Kf1

And Black has two equally worthwhile tries:

(i) 10... h5 securing the position of the Nf5

(ii) 10... Be7 so if 11. g4, 11...Nh4 keeps the balance of attack and defence of d4

8. Nc3 (Try 2 -)

A simple approach.

8... Nf5 9. Na4 Qa5+ 10. Bd2 Bb4 11. Bc3 Bxc3+ 12. Nxc3 Qb6 13. Bb5 Bd7

with equal chances

6. a3 (Variation A3)

The modern approach, and probably best.

6... c4 7. g3

7. Nbd2 Na5 (better 7... f6) 8. b4 cxb3 9. c4 is a dangerous gambit -- Keres.

7... f6

This move, unusually hitting the head (e5) of the chain instead of the base (b2), gives Black equal chances.

5... Bd7 (Variation B)

6. Be2 Rc8

This is a way of avoiding the familiar lines with ...Qb6 which seems at least as good. White has tried several approaches (6. dxc5, 6. a3) but this move is fine.

3. exd5 The Exchange Variation

3...exd5

4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Bd6 6. Qf3 Be6 7. Ne2 Nge7

is level: the open K-file may become important after exchanges

The main line 3. Nc3

Does Black want to play the Winawer or not?

Section I: Black avoids the Winawer

These are the older lines with 3...dxe4 and 3...Nf6.

3... dxe4 The Rubinstein Variation

This is an old-fashioned and rather passive approach -- all right if you like that sort of thing.

4. Nxe4 Nd7

4... Bd7 5. Bd3

5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. Qe2 O-O 9. Bg5 c5 10. dxc5 Qa5+

White still has freer play and prospects of attack. In the endgame the Queen's side majority may count for something.

The Classical French 3... Nf6

This safe and solid line has always been a reliable way of holding White's initiative, but it is not as easy to play for a win.

4. e5 The Steinitz Variation

This has recently become more fashionable. An example line goes:

4... Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Qb6 8. Na4 Qa5+ 9. c3

9... cxd4 10. b4 Nxb4

This difficult piece sacrifice has become very topical.

11. cxb4 Bxb4+ 12. Bd2 Bxd2+ 13. Nxd2 b6 14. Rb1 Ba6 15. Qb3

Black probably doesn't have enough for the piece

4. Bg5 The Classical Variation

The natural reply here is the balancing ...Be7 but Black has two alternatives: ...Bb4 and ...dxe4.

4... dxe4, The Burn Variation

This has obvious links with the Rubinstein line

5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6

And Black has tried both recaptures:

6...Bxf6 (Variation 1)

7. Nf3 Nd7 8. Qd2 O-O 9.O-O-O b6 10. d5 Ne5 11. Qf4 Ng6 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. Qxf6 gxf6

...when White hopes that the greater harmony of the pawns will give the advantage.

6... gxf6 (Variation 2)

A more risky and more dynamic try.

After 7. Nf3 Black hopes the two bishops and

open d- and g-files will give active play.

4... Bb4, The MacCutcheon Variation

This line still offers Black some prospects of a counterattacking game, but is not as good as the Winawer.

5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Ne4 8. Qg4 g6 9. Bd3 Nxd2 10. Kxd2 c5 11. Qf4 Nc6 12. Nf3

White has the idea of dxc5 and Nd4, with advantage.

4... Be7 The Classical Variation

5. e5 Nfd7

And there is yet a further choice:

6. Bxe7, the safe Classical line.

6. h4, the aggressive Alekhine-Chatard attack.

6. Bxe7 Main Line Classical Variation

6...Qxe7

7. f4 O-O 8. Nf3 c5 9. Bd3 f5 10. exf6 Rxf6 11. Qd2 Nc6 12. dxc5 Nxc5

Again we have a classic French imbalance between White's better pawns and Black's counterplay

6. h4 The Alekhine-Chatard Attack

White offers a pawn for chances of attack.

6... Bxg5 7. hxg5 Qxg5 8. Nh3 Qe7 9. Qg4

The N goes to h3 to allow this Q move when White has good prospects of attack. Black may decline the Gambit with a passive game.

Section II: The Winawer Variation 3... Bb4

Black takes a risky decision - to attack White's Knight but with the important dark-squared bishop. White has the main try 4. e5 but also some ways of avoiding these critical lines, including the gambit lines 4. Nge2 and 4. a3, and the Winawer Exchange 4. exd5.

4. Nge2 The Alekhine Gambit

Black is advised not to hang on to the pawn - concentrate on good development instead.

4... dxe4 5. a3 Be7 6. Nxe4 Nf6

An open game with about equal chances has resulted.

4. a3 Pawn snatch variation

4... Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 dxe4 6. Qg4 Nf6 7. Qxg7 Rg8 8. Qh6 Nbd7 9. Ne2 b6 10. Bg5 Qe7

White has a pawn, but Black has active play for it