wwunt wrote:
Buy the Even More Flexible French by Moskalenko
http://www.jeremysilman.com/shop/pc/Even-More-Flexible-French-The-76p3908.htm
How should I study the French Defence?
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jengaias wrote:
Lakdawala's book is a waste of time and money(what a surprise!!!).
McDonald's and Moskalenko's books are good books.
Moskalenko's book is a bit more advanced.He does explain some important concepts but sometimes he doesn't emphasize enough in critical concepts.
McDonald's book is not so good (you realise that after you read Moskalenko's) but it does a good job in explaining simply the basics.
Ideally , buy(or download) both , read McDonald first , Moskalenko second.
My suggestion is to read Neil McDonald's book first. Because it is an introductory book suitable for players at the OP's level, and because McDonald does a better than average job of explaining the fundamental concepts, plans and strategies of the opening to the reader, specifically to the beginner-intermediate player, who is learning the French Defense for the first time.
... the Even More Flexible French by Moskalenko
A sample can be seen at: https://www.newinchess.com/Shop/Images/Pdfs/9010.pdf
When choosing a book, I think it is well to consider that one's own chess-development level can be a factor in the decision.
"Just because a book contains lots of information that you don’t know, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be extremely helpful in making you better at this point in your chess development." - Dan Heisman (2001)
kindaspongey wrote:
... the Even More Flexible French by Moskalenko
A sample can be seen at: https://www.newinchess.com/Shop/Images/Pdfs/9010.pdf
When choosing a book, I think it is well to consider that one's own chess-development level can be a factor in the decision.
"Just because a book contains lots of information that you don’t know, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be extremely helpful in making you better at this point in your chess development." - Dan Heisman (2001)
I agree.
I have Moskalenko's book. I view it as more appropriate for intermediate level players and above. I don't feel it would be the best choice for the beginner-novice who wants to learn the fundamentals of the French Defense for the first time. Neil McDonald's book is much better in that regard, IMO.
Realize also that the French Defense tends, in many variations, to lead to a postional (as opposed to an open, or tactical) game. Unless the player is very comfortable and skillful with postional chess concepts and techniques, s/he may have a difficult time being successful with it. The French requires a lot of study by the practitioner in order to understand how to play it well. This suggests, and is generally recognized, that the best defense for the beginner-novice to focus on in the King pawn game is...1.e4 e5, which can more readily lead to open, tactical chess.
jengaias wrote:
That's actually a very good question.
French defense has the great advantage that it can be as simple or as complicated as you want.That makes it maybe the best semi-open defense for beginners.This opening can literally evolve as you evolve as a player.It;s not an opening that will become unplayable once you improve , it's an opening that will always be playable , at any level.Another advantage of the opening is that no matter what White does and how crazy he tries to play , the pawn structures that you need to know are a few and not especially difficult to understand(although very difficult to master as al things in chess).
Here is my suggestion:
First, understand the basic and "simple" pawn structures of French defense.
Why is that necessary?
Because in many cases ,in the most complex lines , Black's best chance is to enter a favorable form of a simple pawn structure.Additionally , knowing the simple pawn structures will allow you to play relatively correct French defense.
So , start with Advance variation and Greco's games.Greco has many important things to teach you(what to do and what not to do).Greco wins both of the games with very instructive way.They are not flawless engine-like games like the ones Carlsen plays but they contain invaluable knowledge.
Then start studying the basic black setup with Nc6-Qb6-Nh6-Nf5.That teaches you how to create pressure on d4 and how important that pressure is.The game McConnel-Morphy is the place to start.Morphy, in his only French defense game as Black) sets the foundation of the system that will become black's main system against 3.e5 for the next century.In the very few moves(only 14) parade some of the most important aspects of the position.3 more classics , 2 with Steinitz and one with Capablanca teach you some very typical and important mistakes and you are ready to jump in the modern era where the games of the great masters await you(from Korchnoi to Caruana).
Against 3.Nc3 and 3.Nd2 start with 3...dxe4(Rubinstein's variation) and start with Rubinstein's games.This is a pawn structure you need to learn and the resulting pawn structure after ...c5-cxd4 (with 3-2 for one side on q-side and 4-3 for the other side on k-side) can occur from a wide array of openings(queen's pawn openings, Sicilian , Caro-Kan ,and others) and often from other main lines of French defense.It's a pawn structure that most underestimate.Huge mistake.
Best advice ever.
Start with this book....
"How to Play Against 1 e4" by Neil McDonald.....this book deals exclusively with the French Defense...
https://www.amazon.com/How-Play-Against-1-e4/dp/1857445864/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1478660329&sr=1-3&keywords=neil+mcdonald+chess
Neil McDonald is a French Defense expert and one of the best chess authors for explaining things to the amateur chess player. Just get it...you won't regret it...
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626174056/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen120.pdf