Openings · 2 min read
The French Defence: pawn chains and counterplay
The French Defence is 1.e4 e6, followed by 2...d5. Black builds a pawn chain and attacks White's.
The cost is the c8-bishop, shut in by the pawn on e6.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6
The Advance French. Black hits d4, the base of White's chain, with ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...Qb6.
White's four main choices
- Advance (3.e5): a locked centre. Black plays ...c5, ...Nc6, ...Qb6 and often ...f6.
- Tarrasch (3.Nd2): flexible, and avoids the Winawer.
- Winawer (3.Nc3 Bb4): Black often gives up the bishop for the knight and doubles White's pawns.
- Exchange (3.exd5 exd5): symmetrical and quiet.
Which wing to play on
White's chain d4-e5 points at the kingside, so White attacks there. Black's chain d5-e6 points at the queenside, so Black plays ...c5 and presses d4.
The c8-bishop can be traded with ...b6 and ...Ba6, or brought out with ...Bd7 and ...Bb5.
Key takeaways
- Attack the base of the enemy chain and guard your own.
- Have a plan for the c8-bishop early.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the French Defence passive?
- No. The French Defence is solid, but Black gets real counterplay with ...c5 and often ...f6, and the Winawer (3.Nc3 Bb4) is one of the sharpest lines in chess.
- How do I play against the Exchange French?
- Avoid copying White's moves. Castle on the opposite side, or play ...c5 and accept an isolated d-pawn for active pieces.
Practise the related tactics
The ideas behind this
- Pawn ChainsPawns on a diagonal, each defending the one in front.
- Good vs. Bad BishopA bishop hemmed in by its own pawns is a bad bishop.
- Studying Pawn BreaksThe pawn move that opens the position, and how to prepare it.