This is a standard anti-French. Any decent book on the French will have it covered. I personally like 2... c5 but there are choices. Its OK for white but its main value is surprise and greater knowledge of the lines on the part of White.
How to reply to 1.e4 e6 2.Qe2?!
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This is the Chigorin Variation of the French Defence, a common way to play is thus:
1. e4 e6 2. Qe2 c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7
I have little to no experience in the French Defence and so this is all I can give you. However, there are bound to be resources out there on this variation.
I personally like 2...e5!?
Sure, I know it loses a tempo, but it emphasizes the drawback of White's misplaced queen. Imagine the game started 1.e4 e5, now let's say you told White 'make two moves in a row,' would Qe2 ever be one of them, especially before moving the bishop out? But after 1.e4 e6 if you told White to make two moves, then it's plausible he'd play g3 and Qe2.
The difference is that in the main lines, like the 2...c5 lines, the queen on e2 does have value because it makes it less convenient for Black to play d5, and White usually develops the bishop to g2 where it has influence. But after e5 the bishop on g2 is not as strong because the center is fixed.
Hi everyone,
Recently, in a Rapidplay congress, my 2nd-round opponent played an unexpected move in response to my French Defence (1...e6). The move - 2.Qe2 - can be seen on the diagram below. Does anyone have any advice for replying to this variation?
Incidentally, the final result was a win for my opponent.