French Defense
212 variations · C00 to C19
The idea
A solid wall on e6 and d5.
Black plays e6 and d5: a solid center. The price is the bishop on c8, which sits behind its own pawns.
Where it comes from
The French Defense is named after a correspondence match between London and Paris in 1834. Jacques Chamouillet, one of the Paris players, persuaded his teammates to adopt this defense. Steinitz wanted nothing to do with it: "I have never in my life played the French Defence, which is the dullest of all openings." It received little attention until the twentieth century. After that, Nimzowitsch, Botvinnik, Petrosian and Korchnoi, among others, built up its theory. The French Defense has a reputation for solidity and resilience.
The opening itself
C00 · 1 move
French Defense
In the trainer
This opening is in the trainer. Play the moves of the line; if you deviate, you'll see which move theory recommends.
Variations 212
- C12 · 4 moves
A solid wall on e6 and d5.
Names and moves from lichess-org/chess-openings (CC0).