Alexander Grischuk's Amazing French Defense

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Alexander Grischuk is one of the world's best grandmasters and he is also a three-time world blitz chess champion. The French has a reputation for solidity and resilience, although some lines such as the Winawer Variation can lead to sharp complications. Black's position is often somewhat cramped in the early game; in particular, the pawn on e6 can impede the development of the bishop on c8.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:08 Kogan
07:09 Jakovenko
11:39 Vuckovic
Game 1:
Artur Kogan (2563) vs Alexander Grischuk (2757), Rogaska Slatina 2011
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. Nb5 Na6 8. c4 Qc6 9. a3 Be7 10. Nf3 O-O 11. Be2 Rd8 12. Qc2 Nc5 13. b4 Qe4 14. Qxe4 Ncxe4 15. Bb2 Bd7 16. O-O a5 17. bxa5 Rxa5 18. Rfd1 Bc5 19. Bd4 Bxb5 20. Bxc5 Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Nxc5 22. cxb5 Kf8 23. Rc1 Nfe4 24. Ng5 Rxa3 25. Nxh7+ Ke8 26. h4 f6 27. Bh5+ Ke7 28. Bg6 Nc3 29. Kh2 b6 30. g4 Ne2 31. Re1 Nf4 32. h5 Nd7 33. Bb1 Ne5 0-1
Game 2:
Dmitry Jakovenko (2741) vs Alexander Grischuk (2764), Piterenka 2012
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. c4 dxc4 6. Bxc4 Nf6 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. h3 h6 10. a3 Bf5 11. Re1 a6 12. d5 Ne7 13. Ba2 Re8 14. Be3 Ng6 15. Nd4 Bd7 16. Qd2 Qc8 17. f3 Re5 18. g4 h5 19. Kf1 hxg4 20. hxg4 Bxg4 21. fxg4 Qxg4 22. Qg2 Rxe3 23. Rxe3 Qxd4 24. Rae1 Rf8 25. Bb1 Ng4 0-1
Game 3:
Bojan Vuckovic (2615) vs Alexander Grischuk (2760), Olympiad 2010
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 cxd4 8. Bd3 Qa5 9. Rb1 Qxc3+ 10. Kd1 Kf8 11. Nf3 b6 12. Qh5 h6 13. Ng5 g6 14. Qh4 Qc7 15. Nxf7 Kxf7 16. Qf6+ Kg8 17. Rb3 g5 18. Bxg5 hxg5 19. Qxg5+ Kf8 20. Qf6+ Ke8 21. Qxh8+ Kd7 22. Bb5+ Nbc6 23. Qf6 a6 24. Bxc6+ Qxc6 25. h4 a5 26. Qf4 Qc5 27. Kd2 Ba6 28. Rhb1 Rc8 29. R1b2 Rc6 30. Kd1 a4 31. Rf3 d3 32. Qxa4 Qc3 33. Qb3 dxc2+ 34. Qxc2 Be2+ 35. Kxe2 Qxe5+ 0-1
#chess

[@statisticserinokripperino]

The last game is truly something. The line that you gave for white with a wondrous bishop move, the one where the pinned queen is exploited, is practically what Black has actually implemented. Truly the good stuff

[@Brandon-a-writer]

For most of my early career (between 1500-1900 ELO) I played nothing but the Petrov, as I was able to do pretty well with the positions that came from it. Since spending a lot of time with the French, I've played it almost exclusively for the past few years (2100-2400). Beat Jan Gustaffson in a simul with the French :D, world #122 at the time

[@ulasutkann]

I was looking for a French defense video on your channel, it was nice to come across it. We'd like to see more.

[@user-tv8ws3rq1p]

Peak Winawer in that last game! A deep defence that even Fischer found challenging back in the day. Thank you. :) PS. I think that Vukovic - an entremely strong GM at the time - must've been on tilt when he tried to open up the QS instead of nursing through a PP or two on the KS.

[@techeteri]

Great commentary! Nice games

[@sweet_stranger114]

Love u brother. Keep uploading video. Don't make us wait too much

[@SkeletonKingy]

LOVE YOUR VIDEOS

[@chessbuddies]

very informative...

[@Fatigonrunit]

last game brazy fr , appreciate your video bro

[@RJres]

Great analysis and well explained! You know, when I started learning chess strategy, I glossed over the French and spent way too much time trying to make the Sicilian work for me. Never felt satisfied with the Sicilian and it wasn't until later that I discovered the French gave me the flexibility I was looking for, with the ability to block, reposition, and hit back (and the French bishop, despite what many say, is an absolute monster of a piece for black once you "get" it) . Never looked back since then and I absolutely adore playing it!

[@alexroc172]

Thanks so much for this excellent and instructive demonstration of GM Grischuk playing the French Defense. Three games covered is I believe better than five, as you did previously. I really appreciate your artful use of descriptive language in your accurate analysis. You are a real boon to the world of online Chess tutorials!

[@R.Akerman-oz1tf]

Yup ! Play by play(even I can follow).

[@belloswingsfx]

I just start playing chess and I only knows how the piece moves but its very hard coming up with a strategy. Your videos are very helpful

[@tasmaikeni369]

Can you make a video on the grunfeld?

[@Jaychess809]

Next video on former world champion Vishy Anand plz.

[@bolinsun9565]

I found the 3... c5 Tarrasch really challenging to play as black so I always go 3... Nf6, in the first game his maneuvers make it all look so easy... truely remarkable

[@zobry2xxx]

U r an outstanding instructor and commentator. Bravo!

[@SkeletonKingy]

every time sammy uploud its a good day

[@LowT1erG0d]

He's back. Can you do Nimzo Indian next?

[@m3za164]

please do not stop these videos can u make a vid for mir sultan khan and thank u

[@nathansweetman5101]

French defense is my favorite opening i absolutely love it

[@rowlandsibakwe2039]

Am a caro kann forever

[@nathansweetman5101]

@@rowlandsibakwe2039 give a try to the french bro

[@mhoadievdelapaz3703]

I play both,but French is more flexible and solid in my opinion

[@lemat579]

Yeah, I agree you need precision and 250 Elo to succeed in that French thing (I hate being outplayed by positional assfixia so I avoid French)

[@shibambhattacharjee5268]

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