https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?board=2-French French - ChessPub Forum en-us ChessPub Forum Tue, 6 Oct 2026 06:39:24 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 30 https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1780639211 ChessPub Forum/French https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1780639211 Mon, 15 Jun 2026 01:20:59 GMT Braten - The description of Krykun's course on Chessable says he goes for "very rare or novel lines". Thus, it's not too surprising that I found very little coverage of the line you gave ending in 10...Ndxe5 and producing this position:<br /><br /><table border='0' cellspacing='0' cellpadding='0'> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/br40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bb40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bq40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bk40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/br40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bb40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bn40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bn40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wn40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wb40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wb40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wn40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wr40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wq40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wk40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wr40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> </table><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/white.gif' border='0' height='16' width='16' alt='*' /><br /><br />The position search functions on Modern Chess and Chess Publishing failed to find anything, and the only occurrence of the position on Chessable was in Krykun's course itself. A search of the Mega database finds only six games with the position. Black scores rather well (three wins, two losses, and draw), but it's difficult to draw any conclusions from such a small number of games. Clicking quickly through the games didn't reveal any clear preference for where to put the black king, although castling long didn't appear to be common. <br /><br />Since you spoke of "these kinds of positions", I can point to similar lines where more resources are available. For example, a rather more common variation of the French with a similar advance of the black g-pawn is 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nf3 c5 6.dxc5 Nc6 7.Bf4 Nxc5 8.Bd3 Be7 9.0-0 g5, yielding this position: <br /><br /><table border='0' cellspacing='0' cellpadding='0'> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/br40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bb40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bq40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bk40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/br40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bb40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bn40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bn40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wb40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wn40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wb40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wn40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wr40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wq40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wr40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wk40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> </table><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/white.gif' border='0' height='16' width='16' alt='*' /><br /><br />This line is covered in five Modern Chess databases:<br /><br /><i>French Defence - Top-Level Repertoire for Black</i> (GM Ivan Cheparinov)<br /><i>The Practical French Defense - Top-Level Repertoire for Black</i> (IM Kushager Krishnater)<br /><i>French Defense for Black - Play the Steinitz Variation</i> (GM Michael Roiz and others)<br /><i>French Defense for Black - The Practical Steinitz Variation</i> (GM Michael Roiz and others)<br /><i>Practical French for Black - Part 1</i> - (GM Felix Blohberger)<br /><br />The first two databases only cover the line a couple moves beyond the diagrammed position. <i>Play the Steinitz Variation</i> by Roiz goes a bit deeper, but doesn't provide much instruction on how to play these sorts of positions. A couple games are cited, and these might be worth playing through. <i>The Practical Steinitz Variation</i> just repeats the analysis from <i>Play the Steinitz Variation</i>. Blohberger's database was just released this weekend. From the diagram, he continues with 10.Bg3 h5 11.h3 Bd7, indicating that Black will develop a dangerous kingside attack. However, he doesn't say anything about where Black should put the king.<br /><br />The position also occurs in two Chessable courses:<br /><br /><i>Master the French Defense</i> (NM Bryan Tillis)<br /><i>Understanding the French: A Fighting Repertoire for Improvers</i> (GM Jose Gonzalez)<br /><br />Tillis' course gives a bit deeper coverage and a better explanation on how to play the position. He suggests play on the queenside with moves such as ...Qb6, ...Bd7, and ...Rc8, while adding that "Black's king will be safe in the locked center", which seemingly implies it will stay on e8, at least for a while. <br /><br />Instead of buying an entire course, it might be worthwhile to check out the single line associated with the diagram position using the Explore Variation feature on the Chessable site.<br /><br />In the French section of Chess Publishing, John Watson mentions the position briefly in his notes to Druckenthaner-Drozdovskij, Hastings 2009, noting that White should play 9.h4 to avoid 9.0-0 g5, which suggests to me that he thinks Black is better after 9...g5. <br /><br />Another similar position arises from the Morozevich Variation of the Tarrasch French after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Be7 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bd3 c5 7.c3 Nc6 8.0-0 g5:<br /><br /><table border='0' cellspacing='0' cellpadding='0'> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/br40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bb40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bq40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bk40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/br40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bn40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bb40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bn40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/bp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wb40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wn40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wn40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wp40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wr40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wb40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wq40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wr40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/wk40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> <td width='40' height='40'><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/e40.gif' width='40' height='40' border='0' alt='*' /></td> </tr> </table><img src='/yabbfiles/Chess/white.gif' border='0' height='16' width='16' alt='*' /><br /><br />Note that the position can also come about from the Universal Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5.Ngf3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.0-0 g5.<br /><br />Four Modern Chess opening databases include this position, but all of these give repertoires for White, which may be of limited use to someone looking for instruction on how to play the Black side of the position. On the other hand, Tillis' <i>Master the French Defense</i> on Chessable provides considerably more analysis. Some lines go beyond move 20, which means plans for the early middle game (including king placement) are presented. Note that Tillis' course uses the Universal Variation move order.<br /><br />Two older books cover the position via the Morozevich move order: <br /><br /><i>The Modern French: A Complete Guide for Black</i> (GM Dejan Antic and IM Branimir Maksimovic, 2012)<br /><i>French Defence Reloaded</i> (GM Nikita Vitiugov, 2012)<br /><br />Both books analyze the position deeply, well beyond move 20 in some lines. In doing so, they indicate how to handle the middle game, including where to put the king.<br /><br />A more modern view of the position may be found in <i>ChessBase Magazine</i> #205 (2022) in an article on this line of the Morozevich variation by IM Christian Braun. He gives five deeply analyzed lines that end between moves 18 and 27.  <br /><br />Chess Publishing has examined the position extensively, with about thirty games dating from 2001 to 2026, each annotated by Neil McDonald, Kevin Goh Wei Ming, or John Watson.<br /> https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1335889682 ChessPub Forum/French https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1335889682 Tue, 23 Dec 2025 05:22:30 GMT How about the draw by repetition line with queens and  both knights going back and forth for several moves LOL https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1763685339 ChessPub Forum/French https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1763685339 Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:45:52 GMT I may be wending my way to near equality in the Rubenstein after 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Be3 Bd7 8.Bd3 Nd5 9.Bd2 c5 10.O-O cxd4 11.Nxd4 Bc5.  An interesting kind of open-ish game and you don't see ...Bc5 much in most French variations https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1764990319 ChessPub Forum/French https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1764990319 Sat, 6 Dec 2025 14:49:04 GMT Actually I found it, thanks for your efforts though:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1335889682" target="_blank">https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1335889682</a> https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1681732363 ChessPub Forum/French https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1681732363 Tue, 14 Oct 2025 00:54:41 GMT <a href="https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1681732363/42#42">Nernstian59 wrote</a> on 03/02/24 at 21:51:01:<br /><div id="444B45676C390800">I was hoping that additional information on the relative merits of 7...Qc7 and 7...Qa5 vs 7.h4 might eventually be obtained from <i>Beat the French Winawer Variation</i> by Kotronias and Ivanov. This book supposedly recommends meeting the Winawer with 7.h4 and has been displayed on the "Expected" page of the Thinkers Publishing website for quite some time.  However, I recently saw that this page was undated in February, and the Winawer book is no longer shown. </div><!--444B45676C390800--><br />I just noticed that this book is now on the "Upcoming Titles" page of the Russell Enterprises site. It has a new title: <i>Beating the French Winawer - The h4 Ram</i>, and a third co-author, Russian IM Andrei Obodchuk, has joined Kotronias and Ivanov. The site gives a publication date of December (no year is stated, but presumably it's 2025). An excerpt is provided, which is further than things ever went with Thinkers Publishing. This preview doesn't show that much of the analytical portion of the book, but from what I can see, there may be some of the same problems involving readability and organization that TonyRo observed in the Kotronias/Ivanov team's <i>Benko Bible</i>, also from Russell Enterprises. Nevertheless, I'm glad to see that the Winawer book will likely be released soon. I had thought that it had been dropped completely. https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1755847929 ChessPub Forum/French https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1755847929 Mon, 15 Sep 2025 07:18:13 GMT <b>Quote:</b><br /><div>After 4Bg5, they continue with 4...dxe. People who currently play 3Nc3 Nf6, might want mix this in with other lines they know. I think 4Bg5 Bb4, the McCutcheon variation, is still looking good.  </div><br />The MacCutcheon is my all-time favourite! -- in the days when I played a lot I did very well with it. One of those classic systems that (hopefully!) will always hold up! But yes, I can see why 4 ...dxe4 should be thought strong -- interesting that because of it M&B paint 4 e5 as the current main line ... https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1739889167 ChessPub Forum/French https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1739889167 Sun, 23 Mar 2025 10:23:45 GMT <a href="https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1739889167/8#8">derdudea wrote</a> on 03/22/25 at 12:43:46:<br /><div id="36372036273637335202">I bought the book two days ago and I had a Quick Look without my laptop at hand. I am working on a e6 Repertoire myself and did not find any help in this book. Tons of computer Analysis, but no recurring Theme apart from that.<br />Maybe It provides extended and Precise Analysis on how topical variations can give black best Chances to Equalize. But I really Dont know who wants to Play the symmetrical english after 1.Nf3 or1.c4 When you want to base your opening Repertoire on french and stonewall? I know about move order Problems trying to get to the stonewall, but...symmetrical english?<br /> </div><!--36372036273637335202--><br /><br />Anything based around e6 - with or without Nf6 - has some serious move order headaches after Nf3/c4 <img rel="&#58;&#45;&#41;" src="https://www.chesspub.com/yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/default/smiley.gif" alt="Smiley" title="Smiley" /> <br /><br />I presume he wasn't happy with white's various d3/e4 ideas vs the dutch.<br /><br />Although yes, I do often wonder about modern books. I mean what *is* the point of lots of computer analysis? There's so little human input involved there that we can do that ourselves these days. https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1709602219 ChessPub Forum/French https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1709602219 Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:53:51 GMT <a href="https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1709602219/13#13">Nernstian59 wrote</a> on 11/25/24 at 00:26:42:<br /><div id="4946486A61340503">While Black has no weaknesses, neither does White, and the first player has a queenside pawn majority. </div><!--4946486A61340503--><br /><br />Modern-Chess is currently running their Christmas sale. "Understand the French Defense" includes the following chapter:  "White's Queenside Majority vs Black's Kingside Majority" by GM Ioannis Papaioannou. There are several free sample games at the website, one from GM Papaioannou. https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1581375827 ChessPub Forum/French https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1581375827 Wed, 22 Nov 2023 17:56:34 GMT You might want to check out the following from Mihail Marin at Modern-chess:<br /><br />"Leningrad Dutch with 1...e6"<br /><br /><a href="https://www.modern-chess.com/leningrad-dutch-with-1-e6-4h-and-30min-running-time-425" target="_blank">https://www.modern-chess.com/leningrad-dutch-with-1-e6-4h-and-30min-running-time-425</a><br /><br />There is a Black Friday sale, which was 70% off on one title that I checked. <br /><br />Towards the end of the intro, they state that you might want to match it with Cheparinov's recent French repertoire. Fine, but Marin also has a French repertoire! https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1695586359 ChessPub Forum/French https://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1695586359 Wed, 27 Sep 2023 02:27:20 GMT FreeRepublic - Thanks for pointing out that White repertoire by Castellanos. As you noted, he and Moskalenko both favor 11.b3. It's significant that two strong players came to the same opinion. Meanwhile, Stockfish evaluates the position in your diagram in Reply #3 as close to equal. Perhaps both can be true - White's position may be easier to play as noted by Castellanos, while Stockfish can hold as Black. Whether a mere human can do so might be another story. <br /><br />Far be it for me to contradict a titled analyst, but just playing Stockfish's top moves from the diagram shows that Black may not as lacking in counterplay as Castellanos suggests.  It seems that he can try ...Nb4 (forcing the d3-bishop to d1, blocking the rook) and then follow with ...Rc8, with play down the c- and f-files.<br /><br />BTW - in researching this line, I found that GM Matthias Bluebaum has played the formerly obscure 7...f6 vs the Universal System multiple times this year, albeit only in blitz and rapid games. Apparently this hasn't constituted enough of a trend to be noted in Chess Publishing, where the only two mentions of 7...f6 are from 2013 and 2014.