French Defence - Early Deviations For Black

Early Deviations For Black

Although 2...d5 is the most consistent move after 1.e4 e6 2.d4, Black occasionally plays other moves:

  • 2...c5 is known as the Franco-Benoni because it features the ...c5 push characteristic of the Benoni Defence after the initial moves of the French. White may continue 3.d5, when play can transpose into the Benoni, though White has extra options since he need not play c4. 3.Nf3, transposing into a normal Sicilian Defence, and 3.c3, transposing into a line of the Alapin Sicilian (usually arrived at after 1.e4 c5 2.c3 e6 3.d4) are also common. Play may also lead back to the French; for example, 1.e4 e6 2.d4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.e5 transposes into the Advance Variation of the French Defense.
  • 2...f5?! is the Kingston Defence, which shares some characteristics of the Dutch Defence. 3.e5 poses few problems for Black after 3...Ne7 4.Nf3 c5. The biggest test for Black is the Exchange Variation (3.exf5 exf5 4.Bd3) when 4...Nc6 5.Bxf5 Qf6 initiates some fascinating tactics.
  • 2...Nf6 is known as the Mediterranean Defense, and is very rare.

Read more about this topic:  French Defence

Famous quotes containing the words early and/or black:

    “Yet, haply, in some lull of life,
    Some Truce of God which breaks its strife,
    The worldling’s eyes shall gather dew,
    Dreaming in throngful city ways
    Of winter joys his boyhood knew;
    And dear and early friends—the few”
    —John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892)

    “As you grow older, you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it—whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine a family he comes from, that white man is trash.”
    —Harper Lee (b. 1926)