Thanks alot to all of you for the help and opinions! I am looking at some of the books said above on Amazon just now. The link for viceroy (http://chesscoach1977.blogspot.com/) is also very useful for all openings! A great resource.

First, as has been said by many of us here in many different threads, most inexperienced players would probably benefit from spending a fairly long period of time playing open games as Black ( 1 e4 e5) before even considering half-open defences such as the French.

Second, even when the time is right to start considering playing something other than 1 e4 e5 for Black, the French is definitely not for everyone. Consider these comments on the French by the great Mikhail Tal, World Champion 1960-61.

" One of my most unsuccessful openings. Almost all the games in which I chose it ended in my defeat (...) I feel that these losses were not accidental. Black, in the French, has to play with great accuracy, and this is a quality I never had a great measure of, neither now nor in my earlier days." (in Learn from the Grandmasters, 1975.)

Third, if you must play the French, I don't see a lot wrong with the book "Starting out: the French" as a first book on the French.

Fourth, I love Uhlmann's collection of his annotated French games, but potential readers should be aware that it does not deal with 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 Nf6.

I hope this helps.

As given above, most interesting is "Mastering the French" ("...with the read and play method") Mc Donald and Harley,Batsford Ed., 1997 ISBN 0 7134 5716 3.

The book is ideal for beginners in French Defence (I suppose I have this feeling because it is organized in chapters according to pawn structure and center, like Fine's book "Ideas behind chess Openings").

BUT I guess it will be difficult to find the book, (some years ago, there was a strange affair between Batsford Ed. and some authors ; it was before Batsford being moved into Chrysalys group...nowadays some chess books are published by Batsford-Chrysalis example: Psakhis's books about the French).

Hence, best is to send an eMail first to McDonald to ask for an advice for getting the book.

In french language, "Gagner contre la Defense Francaise" - Evgueni Svechnikov, Ed. Payot, ISBN 2-228-90067-2, is a good starting point for White player (because Sveshnikov advocates advance French). Kosten's book, "The French Advance" is good too ISBN 1-901259-10-2, ChessPress Ed.

If you like gambits as White, "Four gambits to beat the French" Harding, www.chessdigest.com, ISBN 0-87568-295-2 is your book.

For Black player, Watson's Play The French is most interesting because good explanation of systems (sometimes offbeatean tracks systems)

Hello,

I have decided to do something which I promised myself I would never do - learn the french! The sicilian and e5 just dont suit me. Are there any books (or websites?) which are good for new french players? I couldnt find any general french books recommended in this forum, only specific line books. I liked "starting out: kings indian defence" so I would definetly get a book like that if there is on.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Alien Chess