Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6

French defence
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h

Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e6
ECO code: C00-C19
Parent: King's Pawn Opening

1...e6 · French defence

edit

1...e6 is the French Defence. Black plans to gain space in the centre with their d pawn. If they were to play d5 immediately, White could take it, so first Black supports d5 with another pawn move. This way, they can recapture and keep a pawn on d5.

The trade-off in supporting d5 with e6 is that it obstructs Black's queen-side bishop and makes it harder to develop. In the Caro-Kann on the other hand, 1...c6 is played to prepare the way for d5, where Black avoids the "French bishop" but with the trade off that c6 prevents developing Nc6, and they lose tempo if they ever want to play c5.

White can now play 2. d4 and build a two pawn centre―which they almost invariably do[1]--and Black can continue 2...d5.

2. d3 is a sideline, the King's Indian Attack.

2. Nf3 or 2. Nc3 are sometimes seen. These usually transpose into a mainline French with d4 (e.g. 2. Nf6 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. d4, the exchange French, or 2. Nc6 d5 3. d4 the Paulsen).

Uncommon sidelines include:

  • 2. c4, the Steiner variation, adding control to d5.
  • 2. Qe2, the Chigorin variation.
  • 2. b3, the Horwitz attack, preparing to fianchetto.
  • 2. e5?!, the Steinitz attack.
  • 2. Bc4?! invites 2...d5 with tempo.

History

edit

The French defence is so named for its appearance in a 19th century correspondence game between the London and Paris chess clubs.

Theory Table

edit

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1. e4 e6
2 3 4 5
Main line d4
d5
Nc3
Nf6
Bg5
Be7
e5
Nfd7
=
Main line / Transposition Nc3
d5
d4
Nf6
Bg5
Be7
e5
Nfd7
=
King's Indian Attack d3
d5
Nd2
Nf6
Ngf3
b6
g3
dxe4
=
Two Knights Variation Nf3
d5
Nc3
d4
Ne2
c5
b4
e5
Chigorin Variation Qe2
c5
Nf3
Nc6
g3
g6
Bg2
Bg7
=
Rubinstein Variation d4
d5
Nc3
dxe4
Nxe4
Nd7
Nf3
Ngf6
-=

When contributing to this Wikibook, please follow the Conventions for organization.

References

edit
  1. 89% of games in Lichess's masters database continue 2. d4.
  • Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.


v · t · e
Chess openings quick reference
1. e4
2. Nf3
With 2...Nc6:
With other 2nd moves:
2. Other
1... other
1. d4
Flank
Unorthodox