French Defense

A complete repertoire for Black in 3 chapters: Winawer, Classical and Tarrasch, Advance and Exchange

The asymmetrical defense that attacks White's center with ...c5 and ...f6: 20 complete variations with middlegame plans, the opponent's typical mistakes and how to punish them.

Chapter 1: Winawer Variation 3...Bb4

The most asymmetrical duel of the French: 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7, with the Poisoned Pawn 7.Qg4, the positional lines and the Armenian Variation 5...Ba5.

  1. Winawer - Poisoned Pawn Variation 7.Qg4 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+…
  2. Winawer - Positional Line 7.Nf3 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+…
  3. Winawer - h-Pawn Attack 7.h4 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+…
  4. Winawer - Answer to the Exchange 4.exd5 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bd3 Ne7…
  5. Winawer - Punishing the Premature Sortie 4.Qg4?! 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qg4 Nf6 5.Qxg7 Rg8…
  6. Winawer - Armenian Variation 5...Ba5!? 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5…

Chapter 2: Classical Variation 3.Nc3 Nf6 & Tarrasch Variation 3.Nd2

Solidity and counterplay: the Steinitz 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4, the Burn 4.Bg5 dxe4, the Rubinstein 3...dxe4 and the answers to the Tarrasch 3.Nd2 with ...c5, ...Nf6 and ...Nc6.

  1. Classical - Steinitz Variation 4.e5 & 5.f4 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5…
  2. Classical - Burn Variation 4.Bg5 dxe4! 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7…
  3. Rubinstein Variation 3...dxe4 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6…
  4. Tarrasch - Open Line 3.Nd2 c5! 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Ngf3 cxd4…
  5. Tarrasch - Closed Line 3...Nf6 & 4.e5 Nfd7 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5…
  6. Tarrasch - Guimard Variation 3...Nc6!? 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nc6 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nd7…
  7. Rubinstein - Fortress with ...c6 & ...Qc7 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 c6…

Chapter 3: Advance Variation 3.e5, Milner-Barry Gambit and Exchange

The siege of d4 in the Advance Variation, how to accept and neutralize the Milner-Barry Gambit 6.Bd3, and how to play for a win in the Exchange Variation 3.exd5.

  1. Advance - Main Line 5...Qb6 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6…
  2. Advance - Refuting the Milner-Barry Gambit 6.Bd3 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6…
  3. Advance - Flexible Development 5...Bd7 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7…
  4. Advance - 6.a3 c4 7.g3: Invasion on b3 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6…
  5. Exchange Variation 3.exd5 exd5 - Active Treatment 4.Nf3 Bd6 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Bd3 Nf6…
  6. Exchange Variation - Dynamic Break 4...c5!? 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 c5 5.dxc5 Bxc5…
  7. Advance - 6.Be2 Nh6: the Punishment of 7.Bxh6?! 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6…