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The Tarrasch VariationAfter 3 Nd2, Black is faced with a fundamental decision about his strategy. Traditionally, this decision has been broken down into three major options: a) Attacking the pawn on e4 by 3...Nf6; b) Liquidating the centre by 3...c5;c) Surrendering the centre, as represented by 3...dxe4.3... Nf6 Main line. Most critical variation. (Williams plan 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.c3 ... )3... c5 Safe (Watson's plan 4.exd5 Qxd5) 3... dxe4 Rubinstein/Burn variation--- Safe but dull. 3... Be7! A useful waiting/prophylactic move. 3...h6!? A rather shocking move that has been played by grandmasters and other strong players.3...Nc6, has always been held in lesser regard

4.e5 Main line4.Ne2 White avoids having his pawns doubled. 4.exd5 White is aiming for an improved version of the Exchange Variation and hopes to prove that Black's bishop is misplaced on b4. 4.Qg4?! This line has a reputation of being a little dubious and it should allow Black to equalize without too many problems. 4.a3!? A slightly strange variation, underrated. 4.Qd3 is a rather strange-looking move, but it does have some sense behind it. White wants to transfer the queen over to h4 after the sequence 4...dxe4 5.Qxe4 Nf6. 6.Qh4 with some pressure against Black's king. 4.Bd3 is very dull.4.Bd2 semi-waiting move.(NOTE: 4...Ne7! is a good reply to any non-forcing 4th move White may try.)

Advance Variation 3... c5 Mainline3... Bd7 4.Nf3 a6 --- Black aims to exchange the light-squared bishops. 3... b6 This is a speciality of Vaganian's 3...Qd7 and only then 4... b6, to avoid 4.Bb5ch A detailed study of the games of Mikhail Gurevich, Kupreichik and Zaitsev, supplemented by those of Sveshnikov, Malaniuk, Romanishin , Sax and others. (Sveshnikov) Positional Themes Same-side castling 38% White Isolated Queen Pawn 11% Opposite castling 16% Black Isolated Queen Pawn 11% Queens exchanged 10% White Pawn on 5/6/7th rank 100% Only one side has Bishop pair 41% Black Pawn on 2/3/4th rank 44% Kingside pawn storm 9% Open c/d/e file 66% (From SCID DB)

Several Videos on the French https://www.chess.com/article/search?cat_id=12&keyword=French

Arcturus_SS writes: Any variations or traps that you can utilize. I'm using the advance Euwe variation and the Rozman French Defense now and I'm not sure ifthere's anything I can change or improve on. The Euwe variation against the advance, which goes 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7, is a large, complex, and solid line against the advance. Some writers even give it as 5...Bd7! Its purpose is to discourage white from playing the natural 6.Bd3 because of ...cxd5 7.cxd5 Qb6 when the d pawn is under attack because the position of the bishop blocks the white queen from defending it. Obviously, a strong line. But, the question is: Do you like the kind of middlegame positions that you get out of it? If you do, then stay with it. If you're looking for something sharper then play Qb6 at either move 4 or 5 with a somewhat more confrontational game. I have played both, but currently prefer 4...Qb6. As so often in the openings, it's a matter of taste. I've been playing the French for a long time, but I'd never heard of the "Rozman French". So I looked it up and saw Levy Rozman's video on it. BTW, I enjoyed it very much. And, it's easy to understand its allure. It offers the potential of a sharp, imbalanced counterattack against 3.Nc3 or 3.Nd2. It seeks to grab the initiative from the beginning, and arms the newcomer with not only a plausible scheme of development, but with an aggressive middlegame plan. It reminded me of something, but I couldn't think of it immediately. Then I remembered. In a fine book by Jonathan Edwards on his correspondence career, he mentions an opponent named Harold Stenzel , who developed his own off-beat system in the French and played it many hundreds of times. What it has in common with Rozman's system is the development scheme of ...dxe4, ...Nc6, ...b6, ...Bb7, ...Qd7, ...0-0-0. The only difference is that Stenzel delays the development of the g8 knight, with the idea of playing it to e7 in some lines. For those who don't know what we're talking about, the Rozman French consists of 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3/d2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ gxf6 followed by the development and queenside castling scheme just mentioned. The Stenzel French omits 4...Nf6. A problem I have with the "Rozman" is that it requires white to be too cooperative. The first time I saw it I thought, what about 5.Bd3 or 5.Bg5 leading back to the mainline Rubinstein variations? Of course, Rozman may have another video explaining that, but I haven't seen it. Another problem is that it's strategically very narrow. It seems to have a one-size-fits-all approach to the middlegame, which is so different from the rich strategic complexity of the rest of the French. It's not a symphony but a jingle. However, if you're really a newcomer, then any plan is better than no plan. If it gives you confidence, then play it, just be prepared if white doesn't cooperate, and don't expect any magic bullets.

EXCHANGE VARIATION4. c4 One of White main options.4. Nf3 Whites most popular option.4. Bd3 Another popular option. The bishop is best developed on the b1-h7 diagonal. "Objectively the Exchange Variation is equal. But there is ample leeway for the stronger player to outthink his opponent and win." John Watson PTF3"Black can always achieve an imbalance if he wants." John Watson PTF4

I like the Watson Books, "Play the French" and Moskalenko "The Flexible French"

Hi All, I would like to set up a few more vote chess games as it is a perfect way to learn and practice an opening. But before that I would like to find out a few things: 1) would you like to play vote chess? I am just wondering how many vote chess games we should run simultaneously. If there are not that many people, who are interested in vote chess, then we should not have too many at the same time. 2) which lines would you like to try out / learn? 3) would you like to try out the French Defence from the other side?Meaning, playing with white against the French Defence. 4) Do you have any questions or suggestions about vote chess? Thanks,Peter

French defense group vote chess policy. Discuss moves first and second day, then vote on the third day. In order to find the best move and to play the best move there are a few guidelines which we follow. These have been gleaned from the pains of experience and most of them should not be thought of as rules. They are just good ideas. We cannot enforce rules. However there are some guidelines infractions for which a person might find themselves removed from the group. Those would deal with one member's behavior towards another member.Our games typically allow two days for us to make a move. The first 24 hrs is for submission and suggesting of moves, plans and strategies and for the subsequent discussion, evaluation and appraisal of those candidates by the members of the team. Votes are far more effective when cast during the final 24 hrs. If, for personal reasons, you find you must vote early, there is nothing to prevent you from doing so. However, please do not encourage others to vote early. We strive to reach a consensus through discussion and vote together as a team. At times there may be two or more moves which are roughly equal but which lead to different strategies. In those circumstances an "Open Vote" may be declared and the votes will decide it. In these cases it is important to remember we are not competing with each other. Personal attacks on team mates will not be tolerated. When the clock reads [new comment alert]which will appear on your home page and will serve as a reminder that it is now time to review the analysis and cast your vote.When joining a new vote game don't forget to tick [x] Notify me of new comments near the bottom of the page. This will ensure that you will receive an alert when it is our turn to move and it will also enable the [new comment alert] mentioned above. If you submit a comment in the discussion forum at any time, that action will automatically enable alerts for the remainder of that game.Each of our vote games is a team effort. Please do not treat it as your personal game. Please do not vote for moves which are not mentioned in the discussion forum. If you have a good move then tell us about it in a comment so the team will have the opportunity to give it fair consideration. It is not necessary to explain why you think it is a good move but of course that is helpful. If you see a foolish move or blunder being suggested by team mate please be courteous and respectful in your appraisal of the move. Let us analyse the moves - not the people who suggest them. Chess engines are not allowed in normal vote chess games. Referencing archived computer analysis is also not allowed. Please refrain from mentioning computer analysis in our vote chess forums. If you get madand decide to quit the game or if you accidentally click on [Leave Game] you will see a pop-up which will give you a second chance to stay with the game (suggested). If you still decide to quit that action is irreversible. Please respect your team mates and keep the language clean. Enjoy the games! ------------

I'm only playing French these days against 1. e4 but I'm not sure how to handle 1. d4. I have tried a few things but I have found that it is hard to get into some defenses after 1. d4. It is not like with 1. e4 when you can already play French. So what do French players play after 1. d4? Everything? 

the knight variation is no noob opening. well, it actually is because white most of the time does not know how to work with it. some variations are minefields for black.

Was this the first decisive 1st game of a match since 2006 and the first victory in 1st game by black since 2004? It is huge to win the first game with black. 

Hello I recently began looking at this line in the French defense and was curious if anyone else played this with black, and so if they found success with it.

Recently my opponent went into Classical Delayed Exchange Variationhttps://www.chess.com/openings/French-Defense-Classical-Delayed-Exchange-VariationWhile looking at it I've found there is also Winawer Delayedhttps://www.chess.com/openings/French-Defense-Winawer-Delayed-Exchange-VariationDo you know any interesting lines with it, or going full exchange after this is the best option?

What a name! And it is also interesting. Is this popular at the moment? On lichess i played 9! games and 4 of them have been this variation. In the studies they proclame it as secret weapon against french (since 6 years). Did it work? At the moment its a draw.   In general i have the feeling that fianchetto on the queenside is now much more played compaired to 10 years ago.    

hi french lovers. i stoped playing chess for about 10 years and need brush off the rust and oil the stiff joins of my engine. it also needs fuel. i would like to do some opening training and get some af this magic french in the tank. unfortunately i mostly get offred advanced and exchange (if they would have at least some c4). his is not the magic im looing for. well, positive sideeffect, i have a winrate of 60% with the exchange (of course my opponents helped me a lot)... however, my idea is to play different variation till the midgame. for practise, trying stupid ideas, or playing bad moves on purpose to see the further development. im open for every idea. i just want to play real french. classic or planet winaver. i love them all

I end up in exchange French positions and I know that its equal but sometimes I make inaccuracies in positions like that. Do you know how to keep it equal?

I've been playing exchange french all my life and I'm trying to make switch to Nc3. I'm using Parimarjan Negi book, and there are whole lot of sidelines. So which ones are critical to learn while I can get through others with basic principles, for example in Rubenstein variation can I survive with Ne4, Nf3, Bd3, Bd2, Qe2, 0-0-0, dxc5 push pawns or should I learn move-orders and analyze it deeply.

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Hello everyone! I've always sworn by the Caro-Kann defense but everyone says the French is better so I'm interested in learning the French Defense. Today however, I'm just asking WHY the French is better than the Caro-Kann. Leave your thoughts, I'm genuinely interested in making the French my main weapon!