World Chess Championship 2024: Ding Liren thinks astir his adjacent determination (right). The French Defence (left) that Ding opted for with achromatic pieces against Gukesh. (PHOTOS: FIDE)
The French Defence is simply a coagulated counter-attacking effect for Black erstwhile White starts with 1.e4. Black plays 1…e6, preparing to determination d5 astatine the adjacent crook to situation White’s e4.
The opening moves successful the French Defence are 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 .. White’s pawns rapidly march to the centre and Black builds a pawn operation to situation it. Here is however it looks connected the board.
The archetypal 2 moves from Ding Liren with achromatic pieces are the commencement of the French Defence. (Courtesy: Lichess)
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Variations of the French Defence
Here are the important variations successful the French Defence
a) Advance Variation: In this White pushes e5 to summation much territory. Black whitethorn successful effect onslaught White’s d4 with c5. Those pursuing the 2024 World Chess Championship betwixt India’s D Gukesh and China’s Ding Liren would announcement this was the saltation played successful Game 1. Here is however the moves play retired ….3. e5 c5 4. 4.c3 Nc6
b) Tarrasch Variation: 3. Nd2….White moves knight to d2, keeping the pawn lineup free. Black whitethorn respond with c5 oregon Nf6. The lines of improvement are not aggressive.
c) Exchange Variation: 3. exd5 . White simplifies the centre by exchanging pawns, though it does not springiness crisp positions for either side.
d) Steinitz Variation: This is erstwhile Black responds with 3… Nf6. The knight determination Nf6 is simply a situation to White’s centre pawns. Leads often to absorbing play. Here are the moves 1) e4 e6 2) d4 d5 3) Nc3 Nf6
In the French Defence the vantage for White is the beardown pawn centre from which it tin motorboat forays into the different fractional of the board. Black would look to support its defence coagulated portion people White’s centre pawns.