French Defense basics

 French defense

The French Defense ranks second in popularity only to the Sicilian against white’s 1.e4 and is considers a very solid opening for black to play, and if played correctly you can destroy whites center a good percentage of the time.

Basics

Major plan for black:

• Attack whites center, the d4 pawn!

Common themes for Black:

• Pawnbreak c7-c5
• Pawnbreak f7-f6
• Less center control in the beginning 
• Black tends to keep king in the center as long as possible

The black bishop at c8 is considers a bad bishop. Black can play 3... b6 and Bb7 to avoid this, and eventually trade this bishop for one of Whites good pieces. Black can also play Bd7->Be8->Bh5 once the f7-f6 pawn break has been played.
Black keeps his king in the center, because of the pawn structure is closed, and the white pieces can't get to your king.

Major variations:

Tarrasch Variation 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 

Winawer Variation 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4