French Defense

• At a glance

  French Defense

  Alexandra Botez's defense against 1.e4: 315 games, 48.3%, above her overall score with Black (44.6%). The MacCutcheon against 6.Bd2 pays off; the Steinitz and 6.Bh4 cost points.

  20 cards, one idea each. Swipe to move on.

• The big idea

  Your games: 345× · you score 46%

  1…e6 then 2…d5: Alexandra Botez accepts a c8 bishop locked behind her pawns, in exchange for a solid center and two clear breaks, …c5 and …f6.

• The big idea

  The game revolves around White's d4-e5 chain, or the tension on d5 when White does not push.

• The big idea

  315 games, 141 wins, 22 draws, 152 losses: 48.3%, against 44.6% with Black overall. Every percentage in this course is hers.

• The big idea

  Your games: 42× · you score 51%

  White mostly chooses 3.Nc3 (position reached 101 times, 44%), 3.Nd2 (50 times, 48%), 3.e5 (42 times, 51%) and 3.exd5 (38 games, 45%).

• The big idea

  Your games: 39× · you score 31%

  Points are lost in two places: the Steinitz 4.e5 (position reached 39 times, 31%) and the MacCutcheon with 6.Bh4 (15 games, 23%).

• The big idea

  Your games: 98× · you score 43%

  The dossier also flags three moves Stockfish disputes: 3…Nf6 against 3.Bd3, 6…Be7 in the 2.Nf3 move order, and 8…Nxc3 or 8…c5 after 6.Bh4.

• Principle

  Against 6.Bd2, the knight goes to e4

  Your games: 13× · you score 69%

  After 6…Bxc3 7.bxc3, 7…Ne4 attacks the d2 bishop and the c3 pawn: 13 games, 69%. White has to deal with the knight before pushing the attack.

• Principle

  Against 6.Bh4, take the g3 bishop

  Your games: 11× · you score 23%

  After 6…g5 7.Bg3 Ne4 8.Ne2, 8…Nxg3 trades the exposed knight for the dark-squared bishop and leaves Black the bishop pair. Stockfish disputes 8…Nxc3 and 8…c5.

• Principle

  In the Steinitz, everything targets d4

  Your games: 22× · you score 34%

  After 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5, Black adds …Nc6, then …Qb6 or …Qa5: White's chain rests on d4, and that is where to strike.

• Principle

  Against 3.Nd2, 3…c5

  Your games: 32× · you score 56%

  Her most successful answer to the Tarrasch: position reached 32 times, 56%. The d4 pawn is attacked before c3 can support it.

• Principle

  Against 3.Bd3, take on e4

  Your games: 6× · you score 33%

  3…dxe4 4.Bxe4 Nf6 gains a tempo on the bishop. 3…Nf6, played 4 times out of 6, is a move Stockfish disputes: it prefers 3…dxe4, 3…c5 or 3…Bb4+.

• Principle

  Against the Advance, the knight goes via e7 to f5

  Your games: 6× · you score 83%

  After 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nge7 6.Bd3, 6…Nf5 attacks d4 a third time: position reached 6 times, 83%.

• Imbalance

  The c8 bishop against White's space

  Your games: 42× · you score 51%

  After e5, the c8 bishop is locked behind e6; in exchange, White has a d4-e5 chain to defend, and every Black break (…c5, …f6) targets it.

• Imbalance

  Doubled c-pawns against the bishop pair

  Your games: 13× · you score 69%

  In the MacCutcheon, Black gives up the b4 bishop and doubles the c-pawns; White keeps the bishop pair. The e4 knight and the …c5 push target c3.

• Imbalance

  Tempi against structure in the Tarrasch

  Your games: 16× · you score 53%

  After 3…c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 and …cxd4, Black keeps four pawns against three on the kingside; White gains tempi on the queen with Bc4 and Nb3.

• Imbalance

  The e5 pawn

  Your games: 29× · you score 34%

  In the Steinitz, e5 takes f6 away from the Black knight and gives White space; but f4 weakens e3 and the g1-a7 diagonal, where …Qb6 and …c5 arrive.

• The trade-off

  What you gain

  • The structure is known in advance: a d4-e5 chain or tension on d5, with clear breaks.
  • Against 6.Bd2 in the MacCutcheon, her …Ne4 plan scores 69%.
  • Against the 3.e5 Advance, the knight on f5 gives Black active play against d4.
• The trade-off

  What you give up

  • The c8 bishop stays passive for a long time.
  • The Steinitz gives White a lot of space: 31% in this line.
  • Against 6.Bh4, you need to know a forcing line to equalize.
• That's all

  Your turn

  These ideas only stick once you play the moves. The chapters make you find the right ones.

  Start chapter 1

Card 1 of 20: French Defense

Use the left and right arrow keys to change cards.