This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
French Defense
Moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5
FEN: rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/4p3/3p4/3PP3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 3
The French Defense is a solid and resilient opening choice for Black. Its characteristic move, 1...e6, prepares to challenge White's strong center pawn on e4 by following up with 2...d5. This pawn break directly contests the center, aiming to undermine White's control.
From Black's perspective, the French Defense is primarily a defensive opening, focusing on building a strong pawn structure and counterattacking later. For White, the opening invites an attacking approach, as White seeks to maintain and expand control over the center.
Regarding central control, the French Defense explicitly attacks the center with the move ...d5, challenging White's pawns on e4 and d4. This leads to a dynamic battle over central squares, often resulting in a complex pawn structure and strategic maneuvering for both sides.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the French Defense, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 692 - Move #5 white
You can also discover how top players used French Defense to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.