The most common continuation of the French Defense is 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5. Black accepts a restricted Bishop (Bc8) and less space in return for a solid position which is not easily breached. The variations after 3.Nc3 (diagram), where the Knight develops to its natural square, keep the central tension.
Black has three good replies.
- 3...Bb4 (Winawer Variation; ECO C15-19), threatening 4...dxe4. The main line is 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 and now 7.Qg4, 7.Nf3, or 7.a4. An alternative to the main line is 5...Ba5, but not 5...cxd4 6.axb4 dxc3 7.Nf3 cxb2 8.Bxb2, where White has a good game for the Pawn.
White's other 5th moves don't put Black under as much pressure: 5.Bd2 Nc6 6.Nb5 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 Nxd4; 5.Qg4 Ne7; 5.dxc5 Ne7 6.Nf3 Nbc6.
Black's try 4...Ne7 leads to the main line after 5.a3 Bxc3+. Less common is 4...b6, which White answers with 5.a3, 5.Bd2, or 5.Qg4.
- 3...Nf6 (ECO C11-14) is an older system bearing the names of the great masters of the past. The most common move is 4.Bg5, followed by 4...Be7 (Classical), 4...Bb4 (MacCutcheon), or 4...dxe4 (Burn). A good alternative is 4.e5 Nfd7 (Steinitz).
The Classical System can continue 5.e5 Nfd7 (not 5...Ne4 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.Nxe4 dxe4 8.Qe2) 6.Bxe7 Qxe7, or 6.h4 (Alekhine-Chatard Variation), or 5.Bxf6 Bxf6 6.e5 Be7 7.Qg4.
- 3...dxe4 (ECO C10) 4.Nxe4 is the Rubinstein Variation.
