Jobava's 3...Nc6!? — A French Defense Repertoire That Sidesteps Theory
Leaving the Theory Behind
Every French player knows the weight of the main lines after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3. Black chooses between 3...Nf6, 3...Bb4 and 3...dxe4, and each one comes with hundreds of lines of theoretical preparation on both sides of the board.
GM Baadur Jobava chose a different path: 3...Nc6!?. With this move, the well-known theoretical battles never arise, and White is left alone at the board from move three.
This is not a one-game surprise. It is a complete repertoire that Jobava has played for many years, including against 2700-rated opponents, who still struggle to find a convincing answer.
What Makes This Repertoire Different
The knight on c6 blocks the c-pawn, so the standard French break ...c7-c5 is off the table. Instead, Black builds his counterplay around ...f6, striking the center from the other side.
This changes the character of familiar positions. After 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7, the setup looks like a classical French, but the inclusion of ...Nc6 and Nf3 takes away White's typical f4 plan after pushing e5.
Against the most critical tries, the course offers concrete and fighting answers. Against 4.e5, Black plays the engine's choice 4...f6!, and after 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 Ne4 6.Ne2!, the immediate 6...f6! leads to a complex position where Black has every chance. Jobava considers Chapter 4 the most important chapter of the course.
The Authors and Their Approach
GM Baadur Jobava is known for original, uncompromising openings that pull opponents out of their preparation. Here he shares the line he trusts in his own games, together with the practical lessons behind it.
He prepared the course together with GM Pier Luigi Basso, combining his practical experience in the line with a thorough analysis of White's options.
Their shared aim is summed up in Jobava's own description: surprise, sound, and full of fight. Twelve model games show the ideas in practice, from Morozevich's win against Leko and Jobava's own win against Bologan to his games against Karjakin, Saric and Hovhannisyan, as well as instructive wins by Christian Bauer.
Map of Variations
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nc6!?
4.Nf3 Nf6
- 5.Bg5 Be7 → Chapter 1
- 5.Bd3 Nb4! → Chapter 2
- 5.e5 Ne4 6.Bd3 → Chapter 3
- 5.e5 Ne4 6.Ne2! f6! → Chapter 4
4.e5 f6!
- 5.f4 fxe5 6.dxe5 Nh6! and the rarest tries → Chapter 5
- 5.Nf3 fxe5 6.dxe5 Nh6 → Chapter 6
- 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Nf3 a6 → Chapter 7
4.exd5 exd5 → Chapter 8
4.Bb5 → Chapter 9
4.Be3 → Chapter 10
Premium Course Features
- 10 theory chapters
- 12 model games
- Video instruction
- 5 Things to Know (The Ng8! Retreat, The Qd5!-a6! Reaction, The d4! Key Pawn Sacrifice, The Nh6-f7 Development, The Bb4+! Concept)
- Memory File with the key lines in one place
- 30 test positions
- 5 training positions against the engine
- Memory Booster
- To Go Version of every chapter
- Multilingual PGN (English, German, French, Spanish)
Completing Your French
This course covers 3.Nc3. For White's other main systems, Jobava and Basso have already prepared matching answers.
Against the Tarrasch, French Defense for Black - 3...h6 against the Tarrasch Variation offers an equally provocative approach to 3.Nd2. White's solid knight move turns into a commitment that Black plays against.
Against 3.e5, 3.exd5 and the remaining sidelines, Jobava's French Defense - Advance Variation and Sidelines completes the picture, including a dedicated chapter on the Exchange French. If you prefer a different setup against the Advance, French Defense - Practical Solution against the Advance Variation builds Black's play around the ...Qa5-Qb6 queen maneuver.
Together with 3...Nc6, these courses give you a full French repertoire built on the same practical approach.
Start Playing 3...Nc6
If you want a French repertoire that takes your opponents out of their preparation from move three, while staying sound and full of play, this course gives you the complete roadmap. Explore The French with ...Nc6 - A Dynamic Repertoire for Black by GM Baadur Jobava and GM Pier Luigi Basso and bring the fight to the board from the very start.