French defense in chess: a brief analysis of the arrangements

French defense is called semi-open, since the debut begins with the moves e4-e6, where Black is in no hurry to open his garrisons. The main task of the defenders is to prepare a counter-attack d5 on the second turn. The debut was christened so after the team of French chess players defeated opponents from England in the match game by correspondence. To date, the French defense is carefully studied and used in the matches of the highest qualification.

The main danger for Black is the isolated position of the elephant c8. Hence the corresponding tasks for opponents arise: White must develop his initiative, and the defending ones must try to withdraw their weak link from the predicament.

French defense. Options

There are a lot of basic such debuts, as well as their branches, which were carefully studied and developed by a whole cohort of the best grand masters and chess theorists. First move Black strengthen weak point f7, but temporarily lose balance on the center line. The strategic orientation of Black is based on a cardinal pawn attack with s5 - f6 after White forms a strong front in the middle, and then on the pressure of the destroyed construction. It is very important for them to withstand the attack in the first 20 moves of the match.

Variant with exchange

White sometimes wants to simplify a position or draw a tie, so play it, even though the first move provides them with a minimal initiative. Black is beneficial to this option, as their c8 elephant opens a wide road. To win them a victory in the party will be very difficult. There are two ramifications of the debut, where White can have a great initiative if Black does not respond in time to an elephant g6.

The Nimcović system

According to some sources, this beginning was played in 1620 by Italian chess player Joakino Greco before the debut gained its real name. At the end of the XVIII century, he began to practice Louis Paulens, but a full analysis of this position was made by Aron Nimtsovich. The grandmaster noted that the move e5 fetters the rational development of the horse from the king's side and partly delays the formation of the entire flank. Nimtsovic added here that the transfer of the attacking potential from d5 to e6 further weakens the position of the black defenses in the center.

However, the whites begin to lose their tempo with the last move. This allows opponents to organize a harmonious and active defense against the attack. Give an advantage in this position of one of the parties is quite difficult. There are many ramifications of this debut, developed by prominent chess masters:

• Closed continuation of Nimtsovich,
• Option V. Steinitz,
• Paulsen's attack,
• The position of Euwe et al.

The Tarrash system

White actually refuses to fight for the center, making the move K d2, and leave the d4 pawn without guardianship. This maneuver violates the laws of the development of figures, since the black-fielded white elephant is trapped in its own rear. However, the construction guarantees reliability in the central segment of the field.

The prominent German chess theorist Siegbert Tarrasch repeatedly and successfully played such a variant of the French defense for whites, so he is mentioned in the name of the variant. The practice of the following years, as well as the matches of A. Karpov with V. Korchnoi, where the first did not win more than one game, shows that Black can equalize the position by 3 ... c5! In consequence, Karpov played the knight not d2, but on c3. This position also has a large number of ramifications.

L. Paulsen's system

Such development does not lock the elephant c1, the queen of the queenside flank actively develops, increasing enough tension in the center for blacks. Robert Fisher, Alexander Alekhine and Vasily Smyslov often resorted to this position and successfully developed their figures. Black has two basic positions - the b4 elephant or the f6 horse. Somewhat less often against the advancing move of the White defenses, the c5 pawn advances.

Particular attention is paid to the continuation of the Paulens system, which was called the "Vinover variant" (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. K c3 C b4). It is considered the most popular today. Foreign literature attributes enormous merit in the analysis of this debut to M. Botvinnik and A. Nimtsovich - to people who have spent great efforts in the development of this direction.

Black actively intends to promote his pawns on the queen's flank after successfully linking the white knight c3. Defending the weak side and attacking the king's flank is the main task for whites. M. Botvinnik believed that the French defense for Black in this alignment is more important. According to him, the defense here is sharp enough, it has counter-swans, which level the advantage of the first move of the Whites, even though they have great freedom and two active elephants. Minus for the attack is the doubling of pawns on the line "c". Black, knowing this, easily destroy the advantage by running c5 - c4.

French defense is a half-open debut, and it must be chosen by patient players who are able to see the weaknesses of the opponent's position and in time to counterattack.