French Defense

• At a glance

  French Defense

  572 games, 58.2%: your French always goes through 5…gxf6, and that's where everything is decided.

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

• The big idea

  The French is 572 of your Black games, scoring 58.2%, a bit below your overall score (60%).

• The big idea

  Your version is sharp: against 3.Nc3 and against 3.Nd2 alike, you take on e4, and after 4…Nf6 5.Nxf6+ you recapture with the g-pawn. That's the Bronstein-Larsen.

• The big idea

  You pay with doubled f-pawns and a weakened kingside castle; you buy the g-file, control of e5 and an unbalanced game from move 5.

• The big idea

  The price gets paid in the most common line: via 3.Nc3, after 6.Nf3 Nc6, you drop to 49% over 94 games.

• The big idea

  Two clear leaks: the d4 pawn you leave standing after 7.g3 e5 8.Bg2, and 7.Bf4, where your 7…Bd6 has scored only 12%.

• The big idea

  Against the Advance (62 games, 50%), the flaw is the same in two move orders: …b6 before the pressure on d4.

• The big idea

  And two sidesteps by your opponents, 5.Ng5 and 5.Ng3, are punished by a single move: …c5. This whole course fits in one sentence: your target is d4.

• Principle

  Take on e4, then recapture with the g-pawn

  Your games: 217× · 55% of points

  3…dxe4 then 5…gxf6: the g-file opens for your rook and the f6 pawn covers e5. You accept doubled pawns for active play.

• Principle

  Your whole plan targets d4

  Your games: 167× · 54% of points

  The Nc6, the …e5 push and your queen on the open d-file: three pieces on d4. After every White move, count attackers and defenders.

• Principle

  Against 7.Bf4, …e5 right away

  Your games: 11× · 32% of points

  The f4 bishop wants to stop you from playing e5. 7…e5 hits the bishop and d4 in one go; 7…Bd6 wastes the tempo that mattered.

• Principle

  A knight that dodges the trade loses time

  Your games: 14× · 75% of points

  5.Ng5 or 5.Ng3: the Ng1 hasn't come out, so d4 has only the queen as a defender. 5…c5 immediately.

• Principle

  Against the Advance, the base first

  Your games: 28× · 46% of points

  The d4-e5 chain falls at its base: …c5 and …Nbc6 on d4 before any …b6.

• Imbalance

  Doubled pawns versus an open file

  Your games: 217× · 55% of points

  Your f7 and f6 pawns are doubled and castling kingside is no longer safe. In return, the g-file belongs to your rook, often after castling queenside.

• Imbalance

  The d4 pawn: center or target

  Your games: 167× · 54% of points

  White keeps the only central pawn. It gives them space, but it's also the pawn your knight, your e-pawn and your queen are attacking.

• Imbalance

  Your c8 bishop

  Your games: 167× · 54% of points

  Locked behind e6, it only gets out via d7, or via b7 after …b6. It's the piece that costs you the most time.

• The trade-off

  What you gain

  • A dynamic game from move 5: g-file, …e5 push, queenside castling. Nothing like a locked French.
  • Your opponents' sidesteps are punished by a single move, …c5: against 5.Ng5, you score 75%.
  • Against 3.Nd2, 61% over 116 games: your best frequent branch.
• The trade-off

  What you give up

  • After 5…gxf6, your king no longer has a safe shelter on the kingside.
  • The main line leaks: via 3.Nc3 then 6.Nf3 Nc6, 49% over 94 games.
  • Your c8 bishop stays passive behind e6 for a long time.
  • Against the Advance, 50% over 62 games.
• 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 19: French Defense

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