ChessThe French Defense is 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5. Black first plays e6 as a support, then uses d5 to challenge White's pawn on e4. Black makes the center safe first and counterattacks from the side later. It's solid and the ideas are clear. When someone opens 1. e4 against you in free chess online, give it a try.
Moves and position
1. e4 e6Black doesn't rush to grab the center. A small pawn move prepares d5.2. d4 d5White takes the center with two pawns, and Black pushes back right away, attacking the pawn on e4.
White now has three choices: push forward (e5), trade (exd5), or defend with a knight (Nc3 or Nd2). The lines below cover these choices.
The French has one well-known weakness: Black's bishop on c8 is blocked by its own pawn on e6 and has a hard time getting out. Black has to work to trade off this "bad bishop" or bring it out the long way around.
What White wants
- Gain space with e5: push the pawn to e5 to keep Black's knight off f6, and White has more room on the kingside than Black.
- Attack the black king: once Black castles kingside, White's bishops, queen and knights often attack there together.
- Pick on the bad bishop: Black's bishop on c8 can't get out, so White doesn't rush to trade pieces and keeps Black cramped.
What Black wants
- Hit the base of the pawn chain: when White's pawns on d4 and e5 form a diagonal line, Black attacks d4 with c5 and shakes the chain from the root.
- Strike at the head with f6: sometimes Black also breaks up e5 with f6, opening the f-file for a rook.
- Deal with the bad bishop: bring it out via d7, or trade it for White's good bishop.
Main lines
Advance Variation: 3. e5
White's pawn chain looks great, but d4 is its root, so Black aims everything there. White defends with c3 and Nf3. This line has the clearest ideas and is a great one for beginners to learn first.
Exchange Variation: 3. exd5
After the trade the position is very balanced, and fights are less likely to break out. Black's bad bishop problem disappears as well, so many French players aren't afraid of this line at all.
Winawer Variation: 3. Nc3 Bb4
This is the sharpest line: White gets the bishop pair, and Black gets the better pawns. The two sides have completely different plans, and the games are often fierce.
Tarrasch Variation: 3. Nd2
A knight on d2 can't be pinned, but it blocks the bishop on c1, so White has to move it out of the way later. This line is steadier than the Winawer and suits players who don't want too much chaos.
A common trap: grabbing the d4 pawn
In the Advance Variation, Black's c5, Nc6 and Qb6 all attack d4. After White trades off the c-pawn, it looks like Black can just keep taking:
But White has a move:
Black has to answer the check first (block with Bd7 or move the king), and then White plays 10. Qxd4 and takes the black queen. At best Black gets a bishop back, which leaves Black far behind.
The key to this trap is the white bishop on d3. It stands on the d-file, and when it jumps away it gives check and lets the queen hit d4 at the same time. The right move for Black is not to take d4 with the knight on move 7. Play 7... Bd7 first to develop the bishop, and only take on d4 once it's truly undefended.
Show answer
9. Bb5+ The bishop jumps to b5 with check. Black has to answer the check first, and the d-file opens at the same time, so next move the white queen takes the black queen on d4.
Who it suits
- Players who like a steady, careful game: the pawn structure is clear, and you're unlikely to get mated in the opening.
- Players who don't mind thinking a bit more: Black has to learn how to handle the bad bishop and when to play c5 and f6.
- Beginners with White: the Advance Variation has direct ideas, so it's the best one to learn first.
It's a lot like the Caro-Kann Defense, since both prop up d5 with a small pawn move first. The difference is that the French plays e6, which shuts in the c8 bishop, while the Caro-Kann plays c6, so the bishop can get out first.
Frequently asked questions
What does the "bad bishop" in the French Defense mean?
It's Black's bishop on c8. Black's pawns on e6 and d5 sit right on the diagonal it wants to use, so it has a hard time getting into the game. French players often spend a few moves trading it off or bringing it out via d7.
Isn't the French Defense too passive?
It starts by defending, but it isn't passive. Black hits White's pawn chain with c5 and f6, and the counterattack often comes quickly. Plenty of world champions have played the French.
As a beginner with White against the French, which line should I play?
The Advance Variation, 3. e5, is the easiest to understand: gain space, protect d4, and the ideas are direct. The Exchange Variation is even simpler, but the position is flatter and harder to win.
Try it yourself
Use the button below to start a game against the computer from the French Defense position, and practice hitting White's d4 with c5. To see other openings, go back to the openings guide. To try a different level, head back to the online chess home page.
Play this opening against the computer