French Defense
A solid, ambitious defense. Black accepts a slightly cramped position and a bad light-squared bishop in exchange for a rock-solid structure and ...c5 counterplay. Favored by Korchnoi, Short, and players who enjoy suffering productively.
Starting moves
The French Defense typically begins with the following sequence. In GoWinChess you'll drill these moves until they're automatic — so you never have to think twice in the opening.
What you'll learn
This repertoire includes 42 annotated lines (3 beginner, 23 intermediate, 16 advanced) covering the most important variations and the tactical traps that catch unprepared opponents. You progress from forgiving beginner lines up to the sharpest main-line theory. A few of them:
- French Defense Advanced: ...Nd2 (11.Nxd4)
- French Defense Advanced: ...Nd2 (11.Nxd4)
- French Defense Advanced: ...exd5 (12.Bxd3)
- French Defense Advanced: ...exd5 (12.Bxd3)
- French Defense Advanced: ...exd5 (14.Bg6)
- French Defense Advanced: ...exd5 (14.a5)
How to study the French Defense
Reading about an opening isn't the same as remembering it over the board. GoWinChess uses spaced repetition — the same memory science behind Anki and medical-school study — to schedule each position right before you'd forget it. You Learn a line, then Drill it from memory, then the algorithm brings it back on the perfect day. New to the game? Start with Learn Chess in 15 Minutes.
Learn the French Defense for free
Drill every line with spaced repetition. Start with one opening free — no credit card.
Start the interactive course →Play the other side of this matchup
Study how to handle the French Defense from the other side of the board.
Related openings
The most popular and most analyzed opening response in chess. 5...a6 is a multipurpose move: prevents Bb5, supports ...b5, and keeps every option open. Kasparov's lifelong weapon. Not for the faint of heart.
Karpov's defense of choice. Black prepares ...d5 with c6, maintaining a solid pawn structure without locking in the light-squared bishop. Less exciting than the Sicilian. More comfortable too.
Black immediately challenges e4 on move one. The queen comes out early and gets chased, but Black gets rapid piece activity. Simple to learn, difficult to play perfectly.
The solid drawing weapon. Black immediately counter-attacks e4 with 2...Nf6. Very solid, slightly boring. Beloved by players who are fine with that.