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Chess Openings, your first opening, the French Defence: an orange arrow marks Black's pawn break against White's pawn chainEureka Chess

Introduction to Chess Openings

Your first opening, the French Defence: every move explained aloud, then played by you

For players who know how the pieces move and want a first opening. Start with what an opening is for, then learn the French Defence as Black: Zippy explains every move aloud on the board, you play the moves yourself, and you are tested on positions from real games.

units
2
lessons
3

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About the course

For players who know how the pieces move and want a first opening. Start with what an opening is for, then learn the French Defence as Black: every move is explained on the board, you play the moves yourself, and you are tested on positions from real games.

What you practise

  • The centre, development and king safety
  • The French Defence
  • The Advance Variation
  • Positions from real games

What you’ll learn

  • Name the three jobs of the opening, and punish an opponent who skips them
  • Play the first moves of the French Defence and say what each one does
  • Answer White's four main replies, and find the ...c5 and ...f6 breaks in master games
  • Win the fight for d4 in the Advance Variation

Is it right for you?

Players who know how the pieces move and want a first opening to play as Black.

What you need first

  • You know how each piece moves

What the course covers

  1. Introduction: what an opening is for

    1 lesson
    • What an opening is for

  2. The French Defence

    2 lessons
    • The French Defence: the central idea
    • The Advance Variation