French — Rubinstein (3...dxe4)
Black trades the central pawn early with ...dxe4, simplifying.
French — Exchange Variation (3.exd5)
White exchanges on d5, simplifying the position.
French — Classical Korchnoi (4.Bg5 Be7)
Classical development with ...Be7 before dealing with the bishop on g5.
French — Advance Variation (3.e5)
Against 3.e5, Black attacks the center immediately with ...c5.
French — Winawer Variation (3...Bb4)
Black pins the white knight on c3, creating striking structural imbalances.
French — Burn (4...dxe4)
Against 4.Bg5, Black simplifies with ...dxe4.
French — McCutcheon (4...Bb4)
Against 4.Bg5, Black plays ...Bb4 pinning the knight — a tactically rich line.
French — Chigorin Variation (2.Qe2)
Against the French, White plays 2.Qe2 (Chigorin), avoiding theory.
French — Alekhine-Chatard Attack (6.h4)
Against the Classical, White sacrifices a pawn with 6.h4 to attack.
French — Winawer Poisoned Pawn
Winawer line where Black plays ...Qc7 attacking the white queen.
French — Winawer with ...Qa5
Winawer line where Black activates the queen on a5.
French — Winawer Armenian (6...Nc6)
Armenian line with ...Nc6 instead of ...Ne7 in the Winawer.
French — Tarrasch Closed (3...Nf6)
Against the Tarrasch, Black plays ...Nf6, forcing e5.
French — Open Tarrasch (3...c5)
Against the Tarrasch, Black plays ...c5 + ...exd5 transforming into an isolated pawn structure.
French — Wing Gambit (2.b4)
White plays the unusual 2.b4 against the French — a wing gambit.
French — KIA (King's Indian Attack)
Against the French, White plays the KIA with d3 + Nbd2.
French — Classical Steinitz (4.e5)
After 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5, Black retreats the knight to d7 and prepares to attack White's center.
French — Milner-Barry Gambit
Against the Advance, White offers a pawn with Bd3 and Nbd2.
French — Fort Knox (4...Bd7)
Super-solid line with ...Bd7 and trading off the bad bishop.
French — Tarrasch Variation (3.Nd2)
Against 3.Nd2, Black responds with ...c5, attacking White's center immediately.
French Defense - Advance Variation
e5 gaining space against the French.
French Defense - Winawer
The combative Winawer variation with Bb4.