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1.Opening

French Defense

You play BlackC02SolidIntermediate

A rock-solid pawn chain and counterattacks against White's center. Black attacks the base of the chain with ...c5.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 …

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Advance Variation: position after 7 moves1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a
Advance Variation: position after 7 moves
2.Ideas

What the opening is about

Key ideas

  1. ...e6 + ...d5 challenges e4 with support.
  2. Always attack the base of White's pawn chain with ...c5.
  3. The c8 bishop is often the problem piece — be patient with it.
  4. ...Qb6 pressures d4 and b2 at the same time.
3.Line 1

Line 1 of 2 · 14 moves

Advance Variation

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Your moves Opponent
No. White Black1
e4White grabs the center.
e6The French: prepares ...d5 so the pawn will be supported when it challenges e4.
2
d4White builds the ideal two-pawn center.
d5Black challenges e4 immediately. White must take, push, or defend.
3
e5The Advance: White gains space and takes f6 away from Black's knight.
c5Attacks the base of White's pawn chain (d4). If d4 falls, e5 becomes weak.
After 3…c5
After 3…c5
No. White Black4
c3White supports d4 with another pawn.
Nc6A second attacker on d4.
5
Nf3White defends d4 again and protects e5.
Qb6A third attacker on d4 — and the queen eyes b2 as well.
6
a3Prepares b4 to gain queenside space and push Black's pieces back.
c4Locks the queenside and takes b3 away from White.
After 6…c4
After 6…c4
No. White Black7
Nbd2White develops, heading toward b3 or f1.
Na5The knight heads for the b3 outpost, where it would paralyze White's queenside.
After 7…Na5
After 7…Na5
4.Line 2

Line 2 of 2 · 14 moves

Winawer Variation

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Your moves Opponent
No. White Black1
e4White grabs the center.
e6The French: prepares ...d5 so the pawn will be supported when it challenges e4.
2
d4White builds the ideal two-pawn center.
d5Black challenges e4 immediately. White must take, push, or defend.
3
Nc3White defends e4 with the knight.
Bb4The Winawer: pins the knight, so e4 is really attacked again.
After 3…Bb4
After 3…Bb4
No. White Black4
e5White gains space and locks the center.
c5Strikes at the base of the chain on d4.
5
a3Asks the bishop to decide right now.
Bxc3+Black gives up the bishop to double White's pawns.
6
bxc3White gets the bishop pair, but the queenside pawns are weak.
Ne7The knight goes to e7 (f6 is covered by the e5 pawn), heading for f5 or c6.
After 6…Ne7
After 6…Ne7
No. White Black7
Qg4Hits g7 — Black has traded off the dark-squared bishop that would defend it.
O-OBlack castles so the king protects g7.
After 7…O-O
After 7…O-O
5.Play

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6.More

More defenses against 1.e4