Chessply

Course

French Defence

A solid Black repertoire vs 1.e4: Advance, Exchange, Classical, Winawer, and Tarrasch essentials.

Lines learned

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0/12 completed · 0/0 solved

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Branch map

0/12 cleared · 0 mastered

1

Advance

Exchange

Classical

Winawer

Tarrasch

Sideline

More ways to train

WalkthroughWatch a move, then play it back.Learn by PlayingFind the repertoire move on the board.PracticeRecall the rest of the line from memory.Opening quizTimed quiz on lines you already know.Play vs botUse the opening in a real game.

About the French Defence

A solid Black repertoire vs 1.e4: Advance, Exchange, Classical, Winawer, and Tarrasch essentials.

This is a playable repertoire, not a video course. You meet each position on the board, play the move yourself, and the opponent answers with the reply club players actually choose. Lines you have seen come back on a spaced schedule so they survive past the day you learned them.

You play
Black
Level
Beginner-intermediate
Lines
12
Positions
35

Main line

Every branch in this course grows out of this opening sequence.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5

What you'll learn

12 lines and 35 positions to recall.

Show all 12 lines

  1. 1. Enter the French

    1...e6 and ...d5. Challenge e4 on your terms.

  2. 2. Advance: ...c5 plan

    Vs 3.e5, hit d4 with ...c5, ...Nc6, and ...Qb6.

  3. 3. Advance: develop and trade

    …Bd7, then …cxd4 to open the c-file.

  4. 4. Exchange Variation

    3.exd5 exd5. Symmetrical structure: develop and play for ...c5 or ...Bd6.

  5. 5. Exchange: castle and ...Bg4

    Castle, then pin with ...Bg4 for active piece play.

  6. 6. Classical 3.Nc3: ...Nf6

    Vs 3.Nc3, play ...Nf6. Meet e5 with the Classical retreat plan.

  7. 7. Classical: ...c5 break

    After Nfd7, strike with ...c5 and pressure d4.

  8. 8. Winawer: ...Bb4

    3...Bb4 pins Nc3. Meet e5 with ...c5 and French counterplay.

  9. 9. Winawer: queenside play

    After ...Bxc3 bxc3, play ...Ne7 and ...Qa5 ideas.

  10. 10. Tarrasch 3.Nd2

    Vs 3.Nd2, play ...c5 or ...Nf6. Essentials uses ...c5.

  11. 11. Tarrasch: piece activity

    After ...Bxc5, castle and pin with ...Bg4.

  12. 12. Sideline: 2.d3

    If White avoids 2.d4, play ...d5 and develop naturally.

Frequently asked questions

What is the French Defence course on Chessply?
A solid Black repertoire vs 1.e4: Advance, Exchange, Classical, Winawer, and Tarrasch essentials. It covers 12 lines built from 35 positions you play move by move.
Which side do you play in the French Defence?
You play Black. The course opens with 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 and branches by White's setup.
How do I start learning the French Defence?
Open the course and press Continue session. You watch the next move, play it back, and the branch map unlocks the following line. Nothing is quizzed before you have seen it.
Is the French Defence course free?
Yes. There is no paid plan. You can train without an account, and signing in keeps your progress in sync across devices.
How long does it take to memorise the French Defence?
Recall is capped at five lines a day, so a session is short and repeatable. The schedule stretches the gap between reviews each time you remember a line correctly.

Related openings

These courses start from the same first move, so what you learn here carries over.