French Defense - 2.Nf3 Lines
Let's learn the French Defense: Anti-French Lines! These are White's quiet sidesteps away from the main theory, and we'll have a sharp answer ready for each one. Let's begin with 1.e4.
Learn this chapter freeMain line
Scroll the moves: the board follows.
Key lines
The free lines of this chapter, each one trainable move by move.
- Main Line
… 5. cxd4 cxd4 6. Qa4+ Nc6 7. Bb5 Bd7
- 3. Nc3
… 2... d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. exd5 exd5 5. d4 Bd6
- 3. Nc3
… 2... d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. d4 c5 6. Be3 Be7
- 3. Nc3
… 2... d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. d4 c5 6. Bb5 cxd4 7. Nxd4 a6 8. Bxd7+ Bxd7 9. O-O Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6
- 3. Nc3
… 2... d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. d4 c5 6. Bg5 Qb6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O Qa5
- 3. Nc3
… 2... d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. d4 c5 6. dxc5 Nc6 7. Bf4 Nxc5 8. Bd3 Be7
- 3. exd5
… 2... d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. d4 Nf6
- 4. d4
… 3... c5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. Bxc6 bxc6
- 4. b4
… 3... c5 4. b4 cxb4 5. a3 Nc6 6. axb4 Bxb4 7. c3 Be7 8. d4 Bd7 9. Bd3 a6 10. O-O Rc8 11. Re1 h5
- 5. Bb5+
… 4... d4 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. a4 Ne7
- 5. d3
… 4... d4 5. d3 Nc6 6. g3 Nge7
Other chapters
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. a3 c4 7. Nbd2 Na5 8. Rb1 Bd7 9. h4 Ne7 10. h5 O-O-O
Advance Variation (3.e5)
Let's learn the Advance Variation! White has five tries here: 6.a3, 6.Be2, 6.b3, 6.Qb3 and 6.Bd3. We have a clear plan against each one...
20 lines1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Bd6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bg5 Bg4 8. Nbd2 Nbd7 9. c3 c6 10. Qc2 Qc7 11. Rfe1 Rfe8
Exchange Variation (3.exd5)
Let's learn the Exchange Variation! White trades on d5, leading to a symmetrical pawn structure, and we recapture freely to open lines...
18 lines1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bd7 5. Nf3 Bc6 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. O-O Ngf6 8. Re1 Bxe4 9. Bxe4 Nxe4 10. Rxe4 Be7 11. c3 O-O
Paulsen Variation (3.Nc3)
White grabs central space and opens the diagonal for the bishop and queen.
13 lines
Learn 2.Nf3 Lines on the board
The trainer plays the opponent's moves and waits for yours, line by line. Free to start.
Learn this chapter free