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The French Defense

Introduction: Part III

2nd Move Alternatives for White

After 1.e4 e6 White need not respond with 2.d4, although that is undoubtedly the best move at this point. In this third part of this introduction we'll look at several alternatives for White on the second move. We will also talk about some transpositional possibilities.

After 1.e4 e6 White has several alternatives to 2.d4. We'll look briefly at a few of the more common ones: (A) 2.Qe2, Chigorin's line; (B) 2.d3, leading to the King's Indian Attack; (C) and 2.Nf3, leading to the Two Knights Variation. Personally, I find none of these lines inspiring from the White side, but the French player should be prepared to meet them.

(A) 2.Qe2 Favorite of the Russian Master, Chigorin (1850-1908).

White attempts to discourage Black from playing 2...d5, but blocks his own king-bishop's development. Black's best responses are (A1) 2...c5 and (A2) 2...Be7.

(A1) 2...c5 Black in turn restrains White's d4. Play might continue 3.g3 Nc6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.0-0 Nge7 7.d3 0-0 8.Nbd2 d6

White is poised to advance on the kingside, possibly by Nh4 & f4. Black will want to break in the center, and ...d5 is practically begging to be played.

(A2) 2...Be7 and Chigorin liked to play now 3.b3, although 3.Nf3 d5 4.d3 Nf6 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 c5 7.e5 Nfd7 looks better to me.

White has good attacking prospects against Black's castled king's position, and has avoided creating targets in the center for Black to aim at. The pawn on e5 serves to constrict Black's game, and Black will want to challenge it ASAP with the pawn break ...f6.

(B) 2.d3 perhaps heading for a King's Indian Attack. Play might continue 2...d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Ngf3 c5 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0

White has refrained from putting immediate pressure on Black's position, and is once again ready to play on the kingside. Black still has the problem of developing his queen-bishop, but otherwise has a nice looking position I think. I don't have a lot of experience with these types of positions, but it looks pretty even to me.

(C) 2.Nf3 The Two Knights Variation, an attempt to influence the center without creating targets for Black to shoot at. Play might continue 2...d5 3.Nc3 and now Black has the sharp (C1) 3...d4 or the more passive (C2) 3...Nf6.

(C1) 3...d4 Posted by Zenwabi on the email list ChessFrench: "White has ignored the center, so why not punish him right away for that cheekiness?" 4.Ne2 c5 5.c3 Nf6 6.d3 Nc6 7.g3 e5 8.Bg2 Be7

This almost looks like White is playing the French! Black's play is considerable freer than in most main lines, and he has plenty of prospects for the middle game.

(C2) 3...Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.d4 c5

This position should look familiar; it's a variation of the Advance variation, only this one is preferable for Black in that White has blocked his c-pawn from supporting the center.

A few words on transpositions...

As can be seen from the last variation above, transpositions are not all that uncommon, and the French aficionado should be aware of the possibilities at all times. Here are a couple of ways to reach the French from 1.d4 even.

1.d4 e6

This is what I almost always play versus 1.d4, inviting White to switch back to the French by playing 2.e4. If he does, I consider it a moral victory for shifting the opening to something I wanted to play in the first place. Of course, nothing compels White to play 2.e4, and in fact most often I see 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c5 (another transposition!) to a Benoni, or 2.Bf4, and wind up playing some sort of queen-pawn opening. I normally continue 2...Nf6, but there's a lot of room for imagination there, and I am not yet an expert in these lines.

Endgame Notes

Have you been smitten yet with my favorite opening? The French to me is full of life and endless possibilities. It is solid as a rock, yet can lead to enough fireworks to satisfy the most die-hard gambiteer. It is highly adaptable, yet its essential soundness is attested to by its continuing popularity, despite over 100 years of extensive analysis at the highest levels.

In my opinion, the single best way to learn the French Defense (besides reading my articles here at Chessville!) is to study the games of the great connoisseurs of the French: Nimzowitsch, Botvinnik, Petrosian, Korchnoi, and Uhlmann. Then just play 1...e6, and see what happens! You too will become infatuated with this wonderful opening. Click here to download a small database of French games by these players.

French players have been called "A Breed Apart", and even Botvinnik acknowledges that the French is not for everyone. One must "have a real chess character" and be "prepared to work hard". Work hard? If you're not willing to work hard, then play dominoes, or Monopoly, or tiddlywinks - anything but chess! The French will repay your efforts a thousand-fold with her strength and beauty.

I'll leave you with a French of my own concoction. I misplayed the opening horribly, but such is the strength of the French, that a wonderful game ensued, with many twists and turns, ending fittingly in a draw. The game with explanations and analysis can be found elsewhere at Chessville (click here), but you might enjoy it first shorn of adornment, in all its naked splendor:

Chessdaddy - licenser [C10] Casual Email Game @ IYT, 05.2001

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ gxf6 6.Be3 Nc6 7.Nf3 Bd7 8.Bc4 Bd6 9.Qe2 Qe7 10.0-0 0-0-0 11.c3 Rdg8 12.Rfe1 Kb8 13.a4 Rg4 14.h3 Rg7 15.Bh6 Rg6 16.Qe3 f5 17.b4 Rhg8 18.g3 Bxg3 19.fxg3 Rxg3+ 20.Kh2 Rg2+ 21.Kh1 R2g3 22.Re2 Rxh3+ 23.Rh2 Rxf3 24.Qxf3 Ne5 25.dxe5 Bc6 26.Qxc6 bxc6 27.Be3 Rg4 28.Bd4 Rh4 29.Raa2 Kb7 30.Rag2 Qd8 31.Bf1 Rxh2+ 32.Rxh2 a5 33.bxa5 Qd5+ 34.Bg2 Qxa5 35.Rxh7 Qxa4 36.Bf3 Qc4 37.Kg2 Qa2+ 38.Kg3 Qa8 39.Kf4 Qg8 40.Rh1 Qa8 41.Rb1+ Kc8 42.Rb5 Qa1 43.Rc5 Qc1+ 44.Be3 Qf1 45.Rxc6 Qh3 ½-½

Online Resources for the French Defense

ECO Codes for the French Defense