by Nikita Vitiugov, 360pp. (Chess Stars, 2012)

Read an excerpt here

This new expanded edition features more than 130 additional pages, along with new lines, and fresh, contemporary information!

 

From the Preface:
Black can enter the French defence, as a separate opening, on move one. I believe that seems to be comfortable for him – to have a reliable defence against 1.e4.

The point is however, that chess is becoming more popular and universal and you should have various weapons in your opening armour (..) According to the generally accepted classification, the French defence is semi-open.

I think it can suit the style both of aggressive tactical players, as well as of the adherents to the patient positional maneuvering. The philosophical justification of the French defence is quite solid. (..)

In this book you will not find the equivocal answer to principled questions of the type “Can you equalize by playing the French defence?”, or “Can White obtain a convincing advantage after 1...e6?”.(..)

We have already seen in the French defence striking novelties in variations with perfect reputation, as well as rehabilitation of lines long past and forgotten. Accordingly, I have decided to present to my readers the French defence – the way I see and understand it.

I believe that chess players of all levels can find in this book something new. It will enable some of you to include the French defence in our opening repertoire and for some others to enrich your opening knowledge and sharpen the understanding of its ideas.

The time has long passed when you could have played the opening only according to common sense. Therefore, there are many extensive analyses of concrete positions in the book and new ideas discovered in the process of preparation for games and tournaments.

This book has been written from the point of view of Black, but this should preclude studying it by players who prefer the White side of the French defence. It is always useful to know something thoroughly.

It may happen that a player, who loves the White side against the French, might become an ardent fan of it as Black!