French DefenseC18

Winawer Variation, Advance Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7

Every move explained, never a dead end.

Both sides plans

White's plan

Grab space with d4 and, often, e5: the pawn chain smothers Black's kingside and gives a natural attack with f4-f5. The buried c8-bishop is the long-term edge.

Black's plan

The French is a counter-siege: ...d5 challenges e4, then the ...c5 and ...f6 levers gnaw at the white chain from its base. The bad c8-bishop frees itself with ...b6 and ...Ba6, or after ...f6.

The line, move by move

1. e4e4 occupies the center.
... e6e6 controls d5.
2. d4d4 occupies the center.
... d5d5 strikes at the center.
3. Nc3Nc3 develops the knight and controls e4 and d5.
... Bb4Bb4 pins an enemy piece against its king, develops the bishop.
4. e5e5 occupies the center.
... c5c5 strikes at the center.
5. a3a3 attacks the bishop.
... Bxc3+Bxc3+ captures the knight, gives check.
6. bxc3bxc3 captures the bishop.
... Ne7Ne7 develops the knight and controls d5.

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Other major variations

The complete French Defense guide See all 212 variations in the branch map