The French Defense

The French Defense is a chess opening played by Black in response to White's e4. It begins with the moves 1.e4 e6. Black aims to control the center with their pawn on d5 and put pressure on White's position. The French Defense can lead to a complex and tactical game with many opportunities for creative play. However, it also requires careful planning and knowledge of typical pawn structures, as White may try to exploit Black's pawn weaknesses on the queenside. The French Defense has been played by many top-level players throughout history, including Anatoly Karpov and Bobby Fischer. It is still a popular choice at all levels of play today.