The French defense

Hello chess.com opening forum readers,

I've suddenly developed an interest in the French defense.  I know some don't consider it a good defense, but I am fascinated by its attacking potential against white and the diverse closed positions it can develop; also its ability to manipulate white's pawn chains is quite interesting.

Could anyone point me to some good online topics/articles here on chess.com or on the internet that'd be worth reading for someone interested in the French defense?

-photray94

We...he....he....ll!

There is a group on chess.com for french players!

http://www.chess.com/groups/home/french-defense-fanatics

I appreciate the reccomendation of the group but I don't see the point in making a commitment to an online chess club dedicated to 1.e4 1...e6 when I'm still in the exploration stage.

Again, will check them out, if I really like the opening perhaps I will join.  Thanks.

Anyone else have more reccomendations?

there is a group? I love the french so I might join!

I do recommend the book play the french by john watson which gives you a full repertoire for the french. If you're totally knew to it you could get a less advanced book so maybe you should search for the basics first.

It's a very good defence because black is always succesful at destroying white's pawn chain if he knows what he's doing and this can give black counter chances either on the kingside or queenside.

Its just a group dedicated to the french.... discussions etc etc

No hardcore stuff here my friend! :D

Not a big fan of the French...unless i'm attacking it! I;ve found...(this is just a amatuer) that it gives too much momentumn to Whtie to attack on the King side. The center locks up, Black goes ont he offense on the Queen side, and Whtie just counter punches....hard

I actually don't like attacking the french, but maybe that's cause I play it. It is  generally more complex than e5 games and you need to understand the theory to get good games out of it. Maybe if you play me I could change your mind!

I am the creator of the French Defense group.  We just have discussions and study tournaments on specific lines.  Really gets you a lot of experience.  Starting Out: The French by Byron Jacobs really got me hooked on it.  As for people attacking the French, it is not as easy as people think.  Black also gets an attack on the White king, which is usually on the queenside.  Black has many pawn breaks at his disposal to chip away at the center.  Even if White gets his pawnstorm in, Black doesn't have to commit his kingside pawns and will lock the position enough to get his attack rolling first.  It is a really dynamic opening and leads to all kinds of great positions.  Truly, there is something for everybody.

I bet alot of people assume that it's passive because it's moving the king pawn 1 square instead of the more natural and powerful looking e5. But I think it should be tried by everybody.

   Mikhail Botvinnk played the French in the 1930's, 1940's and the 1950's.  He played it against Tal in his 1960 world championship match.  The French needs no further introduction.

   You will find, outside of the Winauer Variation, that Black can come out of it with three central pawns in the end game, pawns that are very difficult to stop from queening.  That is how Botvinnik often defeated the less talented.  He was world champion for something like 15 years.  Frank Marshall's "immortal game" was not a Petroff or Ruy Lopez - it was with the French Defense.  So don't sell the French Defense short.  Many club champions like to bust lesser club members with the French.