French Defense

Play as BlackDefence

A solid pawn chain in exchange for a temporarily passive light-squared bishop.

The main line, move by move

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. Qd2 O-O 8. f4 c5 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. dxc5 Nxc5

1. 1. e4 — Claim the center and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... e6 — Prepare ...d5 with a solid pawn chain.
3. 2. d4 — Build a big pawn center.
4. 2... d5 — Strike at White's e4 pawn.
5. 3. Nc3 — Defend e4 and add pressure on d5.
6. 3... Nf6 — Develop the knight and attack the e4 pawn.
7. 4. Bg5 — Pin the knight on f6.
8. 4... Be7 — Break the pin and prepare to castle.
9. 5. e5 — Gain space by pushing the pawn.
10. 5... Nfd7 — Retreat the knight to support the center.
11. 6. Bxe7 — Takes the bishop on e7.
12. 6... Qxe7 — Takes the bishop on e7.
13. 7. Qd2
14. 7... O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
15. 8. f4 — Support e5 and gain space.
16. 8... c5 — Strike at the base of the white pawn chain.
17. 9. Nf3 — Brings the knight into the game.
18. 9... Nc6 — Develop the knight and add pressure on d4.
19. 10. dxc5 — Takes the pawn on c5.
20. 10... Nxc5 — Takes the pawn on c5.

Other sound lines

• 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 Nh6 7. b4 cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5 9. Bb2 Be7
• 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4 f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. Nf3 Bd6 11. O-O O-O

Related openings

• Sicilian Defense (Najdorf)
• Caro-Kann Defense
• Scandinavian Defense
• Pirc Defense
• King's Indian Defense

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