Beat the French Defense – Part 1
By GMs Alexey Dreev, Baadur Jobava & Pier Luigi Basso
The French Defense remains one of the most resilient and strategically rich openings for Black, offering a balance between solid structures and sharp counterplay. In this cutting-edge course, three world-class Grandmasters—Alexey Dreev, Baadur Jobava, and Pier Luigi Basso—combine their expertise to deliver a comprehensive and practical repertoire for White against the French.
This is the first part of a two-part series, covering key lines after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3, ensuring that you have the best tools to challenge Black’s setup.
Why This Course Stands Out
- Three Elite Authors – Each GM specializes in specific variations, ensuring a deep and well-rounded approach.
- A Strategic Intersection – The French Defense appears in multiple Modern Chess repertoires, making this course a natural extension of:
- 1.d4 According to Dreev, where 1.d4 e6 2.e4 leads directly into the French.
- Jobava London, where after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 d5, White transposes into a French structure.
- A Balanced Approach – The authors provide aggressive yet sound recommendations, focusing on practical understanding rather than heavy memorization.
What’s Covered in Part 1?
- 🔥 Winawer Variation (3...Bb4) – A sharp, dynamic battleground where White fights for the initiative.
- 🔥 Rubinstein Variation (3...dxe4) – A solid yet tricky system that has been growing in popularity.
- 🔥 Fort Knox Setup (3...Be7) – A resilient and highly underestimated structure for Black.
📌 Coming in Part 2 – The Steinitz Variation (3...Nf6) and all remaining sidelines.
Course Features
- 📖 15 Theoretical Chapters – Deep yet accessible analysis for practical improvement.
- 🧩 30 Interactive Test Positions – Learn by actively applying key ideas.
- 🧠 Memory Booster – Reinforce essential concepts for long-term retention.
- 🎥 Full Video Version (5h 16min) – High-quality instruction with expert explanations.
Master the French & Gain the Upper Hand!
This course is the ultimate resource for both 1.e4 and 1.d4 players, providing a structured, reliable, and dynamic repertoire against one of Black’s most respected defenses.
INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHORS
SAMPLE CHAPTER
SAMPLE VIDEO