Powerful Chess Opening for Black Against 1.e4 [TRAPS Included]

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

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[@leagueaddict8357]

I'm came for chess but I stay for the chill cat in the background

[@farouqbaiti4315]

Your cat is so lovely.😺

[@tonysu8860]

As an experienced French player, I can recommend the French to beginners and players that want to play an opening that is based more on understanding positions and less on memorization of exact sequences of moves. Although not 100% immune from move memorization, most ideas and positions can tolerate a few move sequences in different order. But, I do not agree with the specific lines offered in this video because I don't agree that very many of the lines lead to equality. The Rubinstein variation in particular where Black plays an early d5xe4 leaves Black with a cramped position and few prospects to resolve which is why although it has been of interest recently for surprises has never been popular throughout French history. And that line where Black aims for a quick Ba6 to exchange the "Bad French Bishop" hardly has any teeth, so although goes through its fads also is not particularly popular. For me, the attraction of the French is that it's a counter-attacking opening which sets up some imbalances White can hardly avoid. In exchange for accepting a severe disadvantage in space on the K-side, Black is able to gain an equally dominant space advantage on the Q-side. If White plays either the Exchange variation or refuses to push the e pawn forward to e5 then Black will eventually take on e4 with advantage, White gives up any possibility of fighting for an advantage in the opening. In many lines like the Classical and Tarrasch variations, Black will even allow his Nf6 to be kicked by the e5 move to create the imbalance to exert pressure on the White center and possibly transfer the King Knight to the Q-side. If the French is to be beaten, White has to know how to attack the K-side regardless if the Black king castles into the storm or stays in the middle and not too many players at any skill level know how to do this which is why the French is so disliked by many e4 players. If White doesn't know how to energetically attack Black, White can be helpless against Black's attack on the Q-side and sometimes it's simply a tempo race which attack is faster.

[@tusharbhanushali9732]

Wow you really explained the most important thing 😮

[@ryanelson4023]

Thank you so much for this video. I am 1300 rated but Iv always struggled as black when I’m playing a player of the same level that knows how to develop as white with e4. Just tried it out online and won convincingly. Thank you for your videos!

[@DonSuttonLBCA]

I have always loved playing French Defense. Thank you for some very interesting insights on how to play better with this opening.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thanks, Don. Happy to help.

[@indynebeker4866]

Fantastic video and commentary. Thank you for having a very straightforward style.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Much appreciated!

[@chesslover8829]

The Rubinstein variation gives White a space advantage and the bishop pair while Black's game remains cramped. It's better for Black to play the mainlines of the Winawer and the Tarrasch. Also, Black will need to prepare a response to the King's Indian Attack. Black can also try the McCutcheon variation against 3. Nc3.

[@ht3beartom330]

Nh5 to f5 would be a good move - alternatively Bg6 to f6 also a good move threatening a loss of White's rook.

[@italolopes9905]

yep, nice fork

[@neutrino1011]

Thank you for the simple position time to learn it and stop loosing to queen's pawn so much❤

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

You are welcome!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters 00:00 Universal Chess Opening for Black After 1.e4 00:47 French Defense: 1.e4 e6 01:58 Main idea: Developing the c8-bishop 03:07 Beware of this trap 05:49 Tip: Old rule of Capablanca 08:00 Can you find the winning move? 08:25 Common trap White falls for 10:17 Advance variation: 3.e5 14:13 Really cool trap, sudden tactics

[@JabarFarahi]

Bf6/ R takes the Knight, g6.

[@bggines_1260]

Great video as usual, GMIgor! I just learned another defense against white's 1.e4! Kind of bored with 1..e5!

[@peterfriedl6206]

Another way in the advance variation would be Qd7 (instead of Ne7)/b6/Ba6. How would you compare this to the Ne7 solution ?

[@Lelekoz]

Best videos and u are really good at teaching explaining

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thank you so much 😀

[@simonlandry9908]

Igor (or anyone who can help...), what if white takes on e5 at 12:18? Thanks!

[@DelayedLaunch]

Ohhh bishop f6! If they take the knight, you can trap their rook with g6!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Well done!

[@alixx_legenddark_xx2819]

I was gonna say that too.

[@ErNishantGupta]

@@GMIgorSmirnov I believe Bf6 is not the correct move as white can take knight and bishop in exchange of a rook . ....Bf6, Rxh5 g6, Re5 Bxe5, dxe5 Nf4 looks more promising as it is threatening White's Bishop 👍🏻

[@crustyprawn157]

@@ErNishantGupta Even if black trades the knight and bishop for a rook, black is heading into an endgame with 2 rooks while white has 1 rook and a bishop, which is winning for black. And your Nf4 loses immediately to Bb5, check to the king, best move is Kf8 and then u just take the black bishop with the pawn. After white recaptures with the rook he is up a pawn and has regained the advantage.

[@michaelstowbridge6947]

I would be asking myself how I got into this position in the first place. Can I hit the 'back' button?

[@ChessCafe-il3od]

12:42 - interestingly, in this position, the top two moves suggested by Stockfish-16 are Kf1 and h4 😂😂. Instead of castling or Qe2.

[@jamiecarle93]

the winning move on 8:18 is simple really, you move the knight and create a new threat. knight to f4 and he either has to move his bishop which allows your bishop to escape aswell or he takes your bishop with the pawn and you take his via knight which opens new threat down his pawn structure that he has to react too. there is alot of good variations with knight to F4

[@chayneplaniden3111]

Doesn't Nf4 lose to Bb5+?

[@marcotirelli9102]

I tried to analize the Ke7 variation, but i found it difficult to manage white dxc5 since it simple demolish the structure of my pawns. at move 11 white has developed 3 piece against one single knight. Furthermore black Queen side is really weak with pawn on c file missing and two white pawn in c5 and d5.

[@moxgen]

@8:00 Knight to F4 attacking the white bishop or BF6? Let him take the knight and trap the rook with G6.

[@lwandomasoka391]

GM Igor is the best👌 thanks again sir

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

You're always welcome! I'm happy to know you enjoyed it!

[@RiseFN750]

G6

[@watcharakanitthabut]

thank you

[@sekharkrishnamurthy3927]

I think better than Bf6 as suggested by @DelayedLaunch would be Be7. After rook takes, f5 would trap the rook. It can later be taken playing g6 and this would get the rook for a knight alone, without having to lose the bishop too. Does this sound good?

[@sekharkrishnamurthy3927]

f5, not f6

[@sekharkrishnamurthy3927]

f5, not f6

[@johnhooper7126]

What should Black do if White plays Bg4 pinning the knight followed by an exchange on c6? I’ve seen this response more than Bd3 in my own games. {Advanced variation}

[@Exceptional27]

I found it!! h6,h4bf6,rxh5,g6 and the rook is trapped

[@samueliam745]

so what is the winning move posed at the 8.00 minute mark??

[@Bharathan-yo6sc]

myis roshan b f6 👍

[@zuheyr1]

Not Rubinstein??

[@TheSpiritualCamp]

Question : at the beginning, why reroute the Bishop from c8 to d7 and then to c6, instead of fiancettoing it on b7 ? Why is it better ?

[@StephenWhite55]

Playing ... b6 weakens all the light squares around Black's queenside - this leaves Black vulnerable to a future Bb5+ and/or Qa4+ by White. In particular, Black's c6 square becomes a big problem, with White developing several nasty tactical possibilities, to exploit that weakness. Also, weakening these light squares increases the value (to Black) of the light-square bishop, so now Black doesn't want to exchange it off! This makes it harder to counter White's initiative in the center - for example, Black doesn't want to play ...BxN(f3), so White can play Ne5.

[@leculecu1326]

I wish you reach 1 m SUBs .I ❤️ Ur Videos

[@sushamaborkar6657]

N f4

[@etrou4]

Wouldn't Kf4 a good move? Great video, thank you so much

[@hrishaansinghsajwan3213]

f6

[@GeneralBlorp]

8:25 … Nf4? Counter attack white bishop to make the trade again while centralizing Knight?

[@CastlesKingSide]

Bb5 check

[@rabranch32]

Superb content as always!

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Thanks!

[@orenwachstock]

D6

[@wikiwing348]

I’m getting back into chess but at my age having a hard time with all the theory. This is a life saver

[@chilakashalemraju3668]

Excellent lecture. Thank you

[@farbodajvadi2782]

I love u igore💪🏻😎

[@farouqbaiti4315]

1.h4 Bf6 2.Rxh5 g6 3.Bxg6 fxg6 4.Rxe6+ Kf7

[@shriyanshsuhane5849]

f4

[@GWoldstuff]

Excellent teacher

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

😃

[@dramaran]

Yes I too wannna say that

[@elumalaia1843]

No chance to beat your spectacular views, Tq

[@Sncedayone]

You attack their bishop with knight f5

[@ChristianSoschner]

Excellent video

[@HuyTonyCM]

8:22 I think we should go Bf4 and play g3 and win the rook if white takes the knight

[@trader-traitor]

You mean g6

[@invictus9976]

@@trader-traitor, you mean g5.

[@trader-traitor]

@@invictus9976 No, g6, if Rxh5 after moving bishop. This traps the rook.

[@hiphopesq]

@8:16 16 ... Nf4 attacks B on d3

[@chayneplaniden3111]

Then Bb5+.

[@JohnS-il1dr]

I tried this line. White always plays Re1 early to support Ne5. The ...Qd5 trick to regain the e pawn gets nullified

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

If you ever fill uncomfortable with White playing Ne5, you can always trade off the knight by Bxf3. It gives Black a very solid position.

[@peterzineksimon]

Pawn F3/RE6;KD7

[@Joeman_Joeman]

Bishop to F6 setting up to trap the rock with g6?

[@jonlynch]

Came here for the chess. Stayed for the cat.

[@redlynxredlynx9859]

I still remember playing you in Tamil Nadu ,india sir

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

It's been a wonderful experience for me as well. I do hope to visit India sometime in the future again.

[@Anonymous-user579]

@@GMIgorSmirnov Sir why you didn't come and participated in 44th Chess olympaid in Chennei, India 2022?

[@jumalegacy9645]

Who won

[@Anonymous-user579]

@@jumalegacy9645 Uzbekistan team Won and Individually Indian player get gold and bronze and Uzbekistan player get Silver

[@anthonysoriano970]

I'm french defense opening..thanks!!!

[@aaudain1]

Keep it coming 👍 💯 😎 😌

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

[@toxic_subh.5921]

Make video on pawn pushing in end game

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Here's another video you may find helpful (in addition to the one I recommended in another comment to you): kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJOukHSgpKuHfJo

[@Inforza]

Nf4 ? attacking the bishop and let your opponent open the H file for the rook, then double up the rooks and go for the attack over the h-file.. that would be my plan. The knight is preventing the king from running away to e2

[@rockyraccoon8270]

That was my thought too

[@p7sc7l26]

But your oppenent can give check with the bishop and solves his problem on that way

[@Inforza]

@@p7sc7l26 i know, but that doesn't mather.. the knight is still attacking the e2 square.. it's not the bishop you wanna win, it is the rook on a1

[@billburros5343]

@@Inforza it doesn't help to attack the e2 square. It is covered by white's bishop and even if you could go there it would not be a threat to a rook all the way over on a1. This line just gives back the piece

[@Inforza]

@@billburros5343 what are you talking about? you attack the bishop when you play Nf4? if you want to keep covering the e2 file you must play Bf1.. king is stuck.. but you can now just take the pawn on the h file with the bishop.. castle queen side, double up the rooks.. that king has to run away or you loose a rook.. even thou it is on a-file.. you are still winning a piece and the game

[@Raventooth]

9:55 I thought you said 'Just by the number of arrows here black should have winning position...' 😂

[@emileschotte5725]

i recommend a cat cam instead of where your oldfashioned logo is placed

[@omarrafaelalvarez6208]

very good....

[@thantsinthein2753]

This is Fox Knox opening I found it when magnus blizting

[@egoeimi3723]

Play bong loud against e4 that is the strongest response I ever know

[@yuezhao4576]

f6 or nf4

[@dopemjay6697]

I would suggest instead of capturing the pawn....move ur knight to h4 to attack the pawn....if the pawn on f3 captures, its a checkmate...if not u capture the pawn...

[@ExtraditionLawFirm]

👍

[@leculecu1326]

with queen

[@KabeloStone007]

At 3.53 minutes, if the white queen goes on to d2, black queen cannot d2..?

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Indeed, Black can take the pawn Qxd4. However, it still fails to a discovered check Bb5+

[@carron979]

8:20 ... f6! (even better before a6...)

[@mrskaur6081]

Pawn f6 or Bishop f6

[@zetacrucis681]

What if Nxf6? 4:22 Lichess database stats and engine eval look unfavourable for black there

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

It doesn't change the situation too much. As soon as White is ready to play Ne5, you can prevent it by playing Bxf3 (and then playing pawn to c6). This will create a position very similar to the one analyzed in the video.

[@zetacrucis681]

@@GMIgorSmirnov Thanks a lot! That makes good sense now.

[@patricksawa7026]

After Qd2, in your first example, the black queen is no longer trapped!!

[@jameshouzvicka6631]

Yes Ft. Knox var.

[@terryhudgins8479]

Looks like knight f-5 because it’s a trade plus it counter attacks the rook

[@edjordan5417]

But Bb5 checks the black king, still losing the back bishop

[@Moonvoy]

F6

[@penismightier4303]

f6 was the first thing I saw too, but then noticed that Rxe6+ is now possible. Black can block the check with the bishop to remove it from the h4 attack, but now has a weakened pawn structure and lost e pawn for no advantage, as well as pinning the bishop. In fact I just noticed due to the f6 advance, white can now fork the king and knight with Bg6+ which loses the knight and brings white back to parity or even with advantage due to the attack on the centralised black king and pinned bishop. Bf6 for black is much better, it forces the rook to back off, or trap itself and lose the exchange if it insists on taking the knight, after black responds with g6.

[@Bloktakong]

pushing f6 offers to instead trade bishop for rook and open the h file or forces the rook off the attack. Knight f4 trades Bishops and attacks b2 or wins the pawn on h4 if they move the bishop.

[@Mastercane_]

but if you push f6, then Rook take e6 check

[@edjordan5417]

Then Kf7 attacking the rook?

[@fidaniiiiii0]

6:52

[@inknochen_]

@3:55 t0he queen can take the pawn on D4

[@player1nt629]

bishop b5+ opens the queen to a discovered attack winning it the next move

[@e4e6mate96]

French Counter Attack !!!!

[@cikonianiggra1415]

I would play in 8:18 probably Nf5.

[@jameshouzvicka6631]

Ft.Knox

[@leculecu1326]

3:53 U can capture the pawn.After he takes bishop..U can take another pawn.

[@massimomorittu7407]

After Qxd4 Bb5 check and you lose the Queen anyways(Nc6 seems to save but Bxc6+ bxc6 and the White Queen takes the black One ...and by the way was pinned so doesn't protect the Queen )

[@curtisw0234]

Pay attention cat you need to remember all this

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

In fact, he showed this line to me in the first place.

[@LEARN-UNITY3D]

One correction . After bishop takes knight attacking queen ur queen has square taking d4 pawn which was earlier defended by knight so queen is not trapped now and u gain a piece ! And also attackon b7 pawn see if m wrong

[@ronfrancis6012]

If this is the part of the video I think it is, white can check black's king with the bishop leaving black's queen unprotected and can be won with white's queen. But I can't be certain we're talking about the same setup without notation or a time stamp.

[@noddyholder7112]

What is going on with your cat, is it anesthetized before admission?😺

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

Churchill was talking about the 'Economy of effort' - Never stand up when you can sit down, and never sit down when you can lie down. My cat thinks so too.

[@noddyholder7112]

@@GMIgorSmirnov Long live your cat, and may it still impart much wisdom to us.

[@heterodyne1]

Nf4

[@yeti2-y32]

Does this version of the French have a name?

[@mosesotobo6868]

Nc6

[@khinkyawhtwe8603]

Nf4 is the simplest and strongest.

[@khinkyawhtwe8603]

@@RL.777 King moves to e7. Opening the H line to trap the king. If King tries to escape, Ra1 is the main problem for white.

[@WCFAsyncQueryable]

At 3:51, why will the queen be captured? Can't you play Queen to D4?

[@jimkyle8008]

If Qxd4 then Black plays Bb5+ with a discovered attack on Black's Queen and winning it next move.

[@terryhudgins8479]

Pawn f-3

[@apethings7671]

Vampire chicken gambit executed jan 2024🎉

[@toxic_subh.5921]

Hello

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

[@Justmonk990]

Bf6

[@Justmonk990]

for 8.20

[@ninjaamara8053]

I left French defence because it leads to draw.

[@yzfool6639]

You can draw with the French against anybody? I wonder why Radjabov doesn't play it? What do you play to win against everybody with black?

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

It's a solid opening, but ultimately you have plenty of opportunities to win (or spoil 😋) the game.

[@tonysu8860]

Only the Exchange variation mostly leads to a draw and requires real skill to win against a strong opponent. IMO the Rubenstein variation described in this video which is when Black plays an early d5xe4 also doesn't lead to particularly good positions, they're solid but with little prospects and rarely even equalize completely. Mainly good as a surprise in blitz but I would hardly choose this in any situation in a classical game because there's no reason to play super solid with fewer attacking prospects against a weak player and probably wouldn't equalize against a strong player who has time to think. But, for practically every other variation of the French, so many imbalances are created, many opportunities will exist for both players to try to win and because of the closed nature of almost all French games, once a player is locked into a disadvantage it's unlikely the player can escape a loss and this is why you also see some games between high level players where they try to open the position... They not only are probably not natural French players and feel more comfortable trying to exploit or nullify an advantage in an open rather than closed position(given equal prospects to keep the position closed or to open). Between lower rated players, a French game invariably stays closed.

[@narutouzumaki-og6tn]

Nf4 might be the winning move..

[@Black-Jf]

Bb5+..

[@terryhudgins8479]

Never mind

[@PaulGoodchild_PHD]

The GM's cat is not impressed.

[@shootdasmm]

Sac Bishop for the pawn his rook takes knight then push the pawn two squares blocking the rook from escape

[@TrickyTrav967]

Knight to F4

[@CastlesKingSide]

Bb5 check

[@bobbybuttocks2687]

could move bishop to f6, then rook takes knight, then move pawn to g6. The white rook becomes trapped.