Best Chess Opening to Counter 1.e4 as Black

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πŸ”Ή French Defense Tricks & Traps –

β™› Find the variations shown in the video in this blog-post –

Are you looking for a solid chess opening to thwart White’s 1.e4? In this video lesson, GM Igor Smirnov will teach you the French Defense, a reliable choice for Black.

While the move 1…e5 as Black is the most popular response to 1.e4, it comes with its own set of challenges, primarily facing various aggressive openings and gambits from White. One key vulnerability in the 1…e5 setup is the pawn on f7, only defended by the king, making it a prime target for White’s attacks.

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The Strength of the French Defense

This is where the French Defense comes into play. By playing 1…e6, Black instantly eliminates the threat to the f7 pawn, providing a solid and robust foundation for the game. The next move, 2…d5, further solidifies Black’s position by blocking the central e4-pawn.

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The “Fort Knox” Variation

A key challenge in the French Defense is developing the bishop on c8, which often finds itself locked behind the e6 pawn. This lesson provides a solution by introducing the Fort Knox variation in the Rubinstein Variation. This approach involves developing the c8-bishop to c6 via d7. The bishop on c6 plays an active role in controlling key central squares and putting pressure on White’s position.

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β–Ί Chapters

00:00 Best Chess Opening for Black Against 1.e4
00:07 French Defense: Why is it better than 1…e5?
01:32Β French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Fort Knox Variation
03:23 1) If White plays 8.Nxf6+
05:01 2) If White plays 8.Bg5
07:37 2.2) Black’s middlegame plan to attack in the center
10:29 3) If White plays 8.Ng3 (best move)
11:48 4) If White plays 8.Re1
13:01 Important positional tip
14:18 3.exd5, Exchange Variation
14:50 3.e5, Advance Variation

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5 Comments

  1. I always get e5 as the third move. This video doesn't address the most common white reply

  2. awesome vid and opening. gonna try it

  3. Very very thanks Sir

  4. So Nice lesson I learned!

Comments are closed.