In chess, whoever makes the first move, usually has the advantage. However, when you play French Defence chess you can change that. A French Defence chess opening is not dissimilar to how therapists would describe handling a confrontational situation: hold your boundaries. Of course, this could limit your options. In chess you can either respond by engaging, try to do your own thing or try to entice your opponent to go along with you.
So what is the French defense?
French defence chess is one of seven top openings favoured by modern players today. It gives Black an advantage but it stands out apart from the others in many ways. Let’s find out how.
What is the French Defense?
Explaining the French Defence in chess can be compared to leaving your home on a sunny morning and upon seeing your neighbour, offer them a cheerful greeting. They respond with a half-hearted wave and turn away. You might think that that’s odd when their usual response is to stop and exchange news.
This scenario is French defence in Chess.
In chess’s open game which is the most common move-pair openings today, the White king’s pawn advances to e4 while Black’s e-file pawn meets it head-on in the centre on square e5. The pawn-to-pawn confrontation is representative of both sides staking a claim on the centre of the board.
The Queen’s Gambit does a similar face-off on the d-file. Contrary to these popular openings, French Defence chess avoids a mid-board confrontation when Black progresses their e-file pawn to 1. e4 e6. After that, White’s move is like any Open Game move. The queen’s pawn moves to d5 and forms its own typical pawn centre. This is when Black confronts White’s d-file pawn 2. d4 d5. Here with an e-file pawn under attack, White could call for the defence of a knight (3. Nd2 or Nc3). Another option could be to capture Black’s pawn on d5, or move their e-file pawn away from harm.
At this point, White should avoid moving their kingside bishop to the e4 pawn as Black may gain positional play faster. There is also an opportunity to capture White’s bishop which gives them a ‘two-bishops’ advantage.
As you can see, it is easy to see how Black can gain the upper hand and keep an advantage just by responding with a French defence chess opening. In fact, it is thought they could maintain this position longer than when playing the more well-known Ruy Lopez chess opening.
Some Background on French Defence Chess
Have we answered your question, what is the French Defense? If so, you might be wondering what its origins are.
The French Defence chess opening came about thanks to a long-distance match between Parisian and London players that took place in 1834. Even though there are earlier recorded games that featured this defence, it was a tactic that was not named.
As it was so unconventional at the time, French players had to do some convincing to make it a standard opening defence. During the Romantic era of chess, symmetrical games were the norm. In fact, William Steinitz, the first World Chess Champion of the world (1886 to 1894), remarked:
"I have never in my life played the French Defence, which is the dullest of all openings."
On the other hand, during the early 1900s, Hungarian master Géza Maróczy turned the French Defence into his go-to move. As he was a highly regarded player, others began to ask, ‘what is the French defense really all about?’
It was not long before it became the third-most-popular answer to White’s move to e4.
Since then, the French Defence chess opening has grown in popularity and ranked second in popularity after the Sicilian Defence.
French Defence Variations
So, what is the French Defense notation?
- e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3
In almost half of all recorded games that feature the French Defence, the main line is this: Black can answer White's knight with either Bb4, 3, Nf6 or 3 or dxc4. These responses, are called the Winawer Variation, Classical Variation and Rubenstein Variation, respectively. If White is a particularly forceful player, it can also adopt the Exchange Variation (3. exd5 exd5), this is where White captures Black’s d5 pawn and Black uses its e6 pawn to recapture. White could also try the:
- Tarrasch (3. Nd2)
- Advance (3. e5)
Another option, favoured by International Master Helmut Reefschlaeger, entails Black moving its queenside knight to c6 as a defence for its d5 pawn. However, this is seen by most within the chess community as a questionable move and almost a throwaway when the rest of the sequence is: 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Ne4.
As seen in the King’s Gambit, every variation has its pros and cons. Here are some approaches for players on both sides of the board to consider.
White Deviates from Standard
The standard notation in the above paragraph shows how more than 90% of the French Defence games open: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3
And, as already mentioned in this article's introduction, this opening provides a high degree of advantage to Black if they can operate within the constraints that it imposes. To regain some favour, White can try to regain the advantage through one of the following moves:
- the Chigorin Variation noted, 2. Qe2 will keep Black off of d5. The typical Black response is 2, c5.
- the Steiner Variation, c4, should also keep Black away from d5.
- the Reti Gambit,2. b3, Black advances to d5 as usual or declines by moving its kingside knight to f6.
- the Labourdonnais Variation, 2. f4, rushes White's pawn structure build-up while Black summons its knights.
- the Two Knights Variation, 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3, as White positions its knights, Black builds up its pawns.
All of these are minor adjustments to the standard opening and may present White with a bit of an advantage, however, most opponents, outside of a complete chess beginner will be able to thwart these attempts to establish dominion. This is why the French Defence chess opening is so well suited to Black players who are new to the game.
Of course, no one is ever guaranteed a win, but using the French Defence in chess could help to raise your Elo ratings. Keep in mind that a good rating which will improve your standing as a player and this should be your goal so that you can qualify for more prestigious competitions and tournaments.
Black Deviates from Standard
As this opening defence favours Black, that side of the board would not be inclined to digress from the standard moves. Still, there are choices you should try, especially if you're a fairly new player. The Franco-Benoni Defence (2. ... c5) endorses an early build-up of the queenside’s pawn structure for Black, this could compel White into playing the Sicilian Defence by opting for 3. Nf3.
It could also turn into the Alapin Sicilian – even if only a line, or conclude as a simple sidestep of the French Defence.
Finally, it may lead to a complicated path that concludes in the Advance Variation that we covered above. Another possible option that Black could exercise is 2. ... b6. This short move is in line with Black's general pawn structure goals but it will still cramp their action. Alternatively, it could turn into the English Defence (1. d4 b6 2. c4 e6), which is an exceedingly asymmetrical opening.
Like the Scotch Game, the French Defence has undergone its own share of bad press because it favours - or at least helps Black to hold its own throughout the game.
Even so, there remain a few downsides. First, Black has to make do with very cramped play well into the middlegame. With such a close-fitting line of pawns, the piece development becomes more difficult. And then, of course, there's the issue of the pinned knight... the Classical Variation, as described above, sees Black responding to their opponent's 3 with Nc3 with Nf6.
That is a normal move but the disadvantage is that the knight will become trapped and powerless. Still, in spite of the cramped structure and limited piece development, the French Defence chess opening is the best answer Black could provide to the standard e4.
So, while you don’t have to give your neighbour a half-hearted wave in the street, if you are playing chess and draw a Black, it’s an excellent opening.
Now, what has the Italian Game got to do with pianos?
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