Vitiugov, The French Defence reloaded

A completely updated edition which presents a Black repertoire based on the French.

Here are Vitiugov's own words: I received, quite unexpectedly, many comments and opinions following the publication of my first book on the French Defence. These were quite varied, both in form and content. There were renowned experts, who pointed out that some of the variations were not analyzed to perfection. Some meticulous readers looked for, and found (!), possibilities for both sides, which I had omitted in several important, and even not so important, lines. There were people who criticized my rather ambitious concept, according to which I tried to present the opening the way I saw it, instead of just following the branches of the database. However, there were also some appreciative comments.

Chess develops so rapidly that writing a book devoted to opening theory which will be valid for a long period of time is "mission impossible" nowadays. What was fashionable a year ago quickly becomes outdated, while some dead and forgotten variations rise from the ashes. Nevertheless, I believe that the foundations which I laid eighteen months ago can be enriched with new variations and ideas, while the essence remains the same."


Contents

Preface

Part 1. White avoids the main lines 1.e4 e6
1) 2.b3; 2.f4
2) 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3; 3.e5
3) 2.d4 d5 3.Bd3
4) 2.d4 d5 3.exd5

Part 2. The Chigorin Vaiation & The King s Indian Attack 1.e4 e6 2.Qe2; 2.d3
5) 2.Qe2
6) 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2
7) 2.d3 d5 3.Qe2

Part 3. The Advance Variation 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Nc6
8) 6.Be2
9) 6.Bd3
10) 6.a3 Nh6 7.b4 cxd4 8.Bxh6; 8.cxd4 Nf5 9.Be3
11) 6.a3 Nh6 7.b4 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf5 9.Bb2
12) 6.a3 Bd7

Part 4. The Rubinstein Variation 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7
13) 5.g3
14) 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Nxf6 Nxf6 8.Bd2; 8.Bxf6; 8.Be3
15) 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Nxf6 Nxf6 8.Bh4
16) 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6 Nxf6 7.g3; 7.Bd3; 7.Be2; 7.Be3
17) 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6 Nxf6 7.c3
18) 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Bd3

Part 5. The Morozevich Variation 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Be7
19) 4.c3
20) 4.e5
21) 4.Ngf3
22) 4.Bd3

Part 6. The Tarrasch Variation with 3...c5 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5
23) 4.c3; 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.dxc5
24) 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4
25) 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.Bb3; 7.Qe2
26) 4.Ngf3 cxd4 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Bc4 Qd6 7.0-0

Part 7. The Winawer Variation 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 27) Various without 4.e5
28) 4.e5 b6; 4...c5 5.Qg4; 5.dxc5; 5.Bd2
29) 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Bd3; 7.h4; 7.a4; 7.Nf3
30) 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4
31) 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Nc6

Part 8. The MacCutcheon Variation 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.N'f13 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4
32) 5.Bd3; 5.Nge2; 5.exd5
33) 5.e5 h6 6.exf6
34) 5.e5 h6 6.Bc1
35) 5.e5 h6 6.Be3
36) 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2

Part 9. The Steinitz Variation 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6
37) 4.Bd3; 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nce2; 5.Nf3
38) 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 Qb6; 7...a6
39) 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 cd 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Qd2 0-0 10.g3; 10.0-0-0 a6 w/o 11.Nb3
40) 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 cd 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 a6 11.Nb3

Afterword

Index of Variations