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French Defence (C11)

French Defence is a defence for Black. Level: Intermediate. Main line: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3.

The main line, move by move

1. 1. e4: White takes the centre.
2. 1… e6: Black prepares ...d5 with a pawn behind it.
3. 2. d4: White builds a big centre.
4. 2… d5: Black attacks e4.
5. 3. Nc3: White defends e4.
6. 3… Nf6: Black attacks e4 again.
7. 4. e5: White pushes past with gain of time: the knight must move.
8. 4… Nfd7: The knight retreats, ready to go to b6 or support ...c5.
9. 5. f4: White supports the e5 pawn with another pawn.
10. 5… c5: Black strikes at the base of White's pawn chain.
11. 6. Nf3: White develops and defends d4.
12. 6… Nc6: Black puts more pressure on d4.
13. 7. Be3: White defends d4 again.

Ideas for White

Use the space from the e5 pawn, keep the pawn chain, and attack on the kingside.

Ideas for Black

Attack the base of White's pawn chain with ...c5 and later ...f6. Find a role for the c8 bishop, the "French bishop".

Typical plans

• Black: ...c5, ...Nc6, ...Qb6 against d4.
• Black: ...f6 to break the e5 pawn.
• White: Bd3, O-O and an attack with f5 or Qg4.

Common mistakes

• Black leaving the c8 bishop shut in for the whole game. Plans with ...b6 and ...Ba6, or ...Bd7, help.
• White over-extending with too many pawn moves.

Variations

Advance (3.e5), Winawer (3...Bb4), Tarrasch (3.Nd2), Exchange (3.exd5), Classical / Steinitz (3...Nf6 4.e5).

Quick check

Which black piece is often the problem piece in the French Defence?

Answer: The light-squared bishop on c8. The pawns on e6 and d5 sit on light squares and block the c8 bishop.

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