Overview
Learn How to Play the French Defense (Video Series+Databases)
So you want to play master the French Defense but have trouble remembering your lines? World-renowned trainer Mihail Marin has come up with the perfect solution…
We’re proud to announce we’ve teamed up with Modern Chess to provide the perfect solution. GM Marin has put together 3 fully-annotated chess databases.
They provide pro-level repertoires for Black against:
- The Tarrasch (3.Nd2)
- The Winawer (3.Nc3 Bb4)
- The Advance variation (3.e5) and sidelines.
Each of these is a complete course in itself – organized into chapters covering the theory, model games, recommended lines, and interactive tests!
We are happy to have partnered with Modern Chess to provide you with these extremely thorough databases.
You get to see how different ideas play out… and actually move the pieces yourself to check all the “what ifs?”
And to give you the complete experience, we’re bundling these courses with Mihail’s superb 8-hour 80/20 Tactics Multiplier on the French!
About the Author
Mihail Marin is a Romanian chess Grandmaster and a very popular chess coach and author. Marin’s first major success in international chess was qualifying for the Interzonal in 1987.
He has won the Romanian Championships on three occasions and has played in the Chess Olympiads ten times, winning a bronze individual medal in 1988. For several years he was editor of the magazine Chess Extra press.
GM Mihail Marin is one of the most respected coaches in the world today having trained the young Judit Polgar and being praised for his ability to explain deep chess truths in a way improving players can understand.
Take down 1.e4 players with…
- Mihail’s Tactical Toolbox. The great thing about the French is the huge number of subtle tactics that your opponents will walk into time and again. It’s hard to believe that White’s Ng5 is a mistake… imagine your rival’s face when you bang out Bxg2! (diagram)
- The Power of the Isolani. The isolated queen’s pawn/isolani we get against the Tarrasch lets us stifle White by controlling c4 and e4… before we either sacrifice it in an attack or time a trade to permanently damage White’s structure.
- Stunning sacrifices. If your opponent is surprised by …e5! and …Ndxe5! (diagram), wait until they see …Bh4+!! GM Marin’s 80/20 Tactics course is packed full of killer sacrifices that your opponents will never see coming.
What to expect from each of the 4 courses
In 80/20 Tactics Multiplier French Defense:
GM Mihail Marin’s course on the essential patterns in the French Defense gives you a complete understanding of typical tactical and strategic patterns for both sides.
The French Defense is one of the most trusted openings in chess, popular at all levels from beginners to strong grandmasters.
It is a strategically and dynamically complex opening full of rich possibilities. Both sides have a multitude of tactical shots and ideas at their disposal thanks to the different asymmetrical pawn structures and imbalances which occur from the different variations.
It is a perfect opening for players who prefer to understand key strategical and tactical ideas rather than memorize an endless amount of theoretical variations.
In Classical Repertoire against 3.Nd2 (PGN):
GM Mihail Marin offers a repertoire against 3.Nd2 French (the so-called Tarrasch system) based on the Isolated queen’s pawn (or Isolani).
The author relies on his extensive experience with the Isolani to guide you through the intricacies of arguably the most important pawn structure in chess.
In Advance Variation & Sidelines (PGN):
Marin deals with the other White’s alternatives on the very first moves. He provides adequate antidotes, both based on strategical ground and by concrete ideas or move orders.
The included material resembles a small encyclopedia from Black’s point of view. It is structured into 25 chapters. The last 9 are covering the less popular continuations on move 2, as well as the unusual ways of defending the attacked central pawn after 2.d4 d5 in the final one. Before them, another 5 are devoted to its exchange – 3.exd5 exd5.
In Play the Winawer against 3.Nc3 (PGN):
3.Nc3 is White’s most active weapon against the French Defense. GM Marin provides an opening repertoire for Black based on 3…Bb4, commonly known as the Winawer Variation.
While both 3…Bb4 and 3…Nf6 are principled as they attack White’s center, the author has a clear preference for 3…Bb4 because it offers an early strategic plot, similar to his recommendation against 3.Nd2.
The point is that in many lines of this variation, the exchange on c3 leads to strategically double-edged positions.
Additional information
| Presenter | |
|---|---|
| Type of Video | |
| Opening Name | |
| Level | |
| Encoding | Standard H.264, .mp4, compatible with all Apple and PC devices. |
| Running Time | +8 hours |
| Production House |
Content Outline
80/20 Tactics Multiplier: The French Defense – GM Mihail Marin
Introduction: About this course
Chapter 1: White’s Thematic f4-f5 Plan
Chapter 2: The Blocked Center – Black’s Strategic and Tactical Ideas
Chapter 3: White’s Kingside Piece Sacrifices
Chapter 4: Destroying Black’s Center – Typical Sacrifices
Chapter 5: Black’s Kingside Play with …g5
Chapter 6: Destroying White’s Center – Typical Sacrifices
Chapter 7: Black’s Bad Light-Squared Bishop
Chapter 8: Black’s Central Break …e5
Chapter 9: The French Isolani (1)
Chapter 10: The French Isolani (2)
Chapter 11: The French Open Center
Chapter 12: Unbalancing Ideas in the Exchange Variation
Chapter 13: French Defense Classics (1)
Chapter 14: French Defense Classics (2)
Chapter 15: French Defense Classics (3)
Conclusion
French Defense – Advance Variation & Sidelines (Chess Database)
Introduction
Chapter 1 – Advance Variation – Sidelines on Move 4
Chapter 2 – Advance Variation – 4.Nf3
Chapter 3 – Advance Variation – Sidelines on moves 5 and 6
Chapter 4 – Advance Variation – 6.Bd3
Chapter 5 – Advance Variation – 6.Na3
Chapter 6 – Advance Variation – 6.Be2 (Part 1)
Chapter 7 – Advance Variation – 6.Be2 (Part 2)
Chapter 8 – Advance Variation – 6.a3 – Sidelines
Chapter 9 – Advance Variation – 6.a3 & 8.Be2
Chapter 10 – Advance Variation – 8.g3 (Part 1)
Chapter 11 – Advance Variation – 8.g3 (Part 2)
Chapter 12 – Exchange Variation – Introduction
Chapter 13 – Exchange Variation – 5.Bg5
Chapter 14 – Exchange Variation – 5.Bd3 (Part 1)
Chapter 15 – Exchange Variation – 5.Bd3 (Part 2)
Chapter 16 – Miezis Variation
Chapter 17 – 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5
Chapter 18 – 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3
Chapter 19 – 2.b3
Chapter 20 – 2.f4 d5 3.e5
Chapter 21 – 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3
Chapter 22 – 2.d3 & 7.Nc3
Chapter 23 – 2.d3 & 7.c4
Chapter 24 – 2.d3 & 7.Nbd2
Chapter 25 – Odds and Ends
Update (January 2020) – L’Ami, Erwin – Shirov, Alexei
Update (January 2020) – De Rosa, Mariagrazia – Marin, Mihail
French Defense – Classical Repertoire against 3.Nd2
Introduction
French Strategy – Learn How to Play with the French Isolani
Chapter 1 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 exd4 7.Nxd4
Chapter 2 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 exd4 7.0-0 Bd6 8.Nb3 Nge7 9.Nbxd4 0-0 10.c3 Bg4 11.Qa4
Chapter 3 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 exd4 7.0-0 Bd6 8.Nb3 Nge7 9.Nbxd4 0-0 10.c3 Bg4 11.Be2
Chapter 4 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 exd4 7.0-0 Bd6 8.Nb3 Nge7 9.Nbxd4 0-0 10.Be3
Chapter 5 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 exd4 7.0-0 Bd6 8.Nb3 Nge7 9.Nbxd4 0-0 10.Bg5
Chapter 6 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 exd4 7.0-0 Bd6 8.Nb3 Nge7 9.Nbxd4 0-0 10.h3
Chapter 7 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 exd4 7.0-0 Bd6 8.Nb3 Nge7 9.Nfxd4
Chapter 8 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 exd4 7.Qe2+
Chapter 9 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 exd4 7.Qe2+ Qe7 8.Nxd4 Qxe2 9.Nxe2
Chapter 10 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 exd4 7.Qe2+ Qe7 8.Nxd4 Qxe2 9.Kxe2 Bd7 10.Nxc6
Chapter 11 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 exd4 7.Qe2+ Qe7 8.Nxd4 Qxe2 9.Kxe2 Bd7 10.N2b3
Chapter 12 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 exd4 7.Qe2+ Qe7 8.Nxd4 Qxe2 9.Kxe2 Bd7 10.N2f3
Chapter 13 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bb5+ Nc6 6.Ne2
Chapter 14 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bb5+ Nc6 6.Qe2 Be7 7.dxc5 Nf6 8.Nb3 0-0 9.Be3
Chapter 15 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bb5+ Nc6 6.Qe2 Be7 7.dxc5 Nf6 8.Nb3 0-0 9.Nf3
Chapter 16 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bb5+ Nc6 6.Qe2 Be7 7.dxc5 Nf6 8.Nb3 0-0 9.Nf3 Re8 10.Be3 a6 11.Ba4
Chapter 17 – 4.Ngf3 and Other Lines
Update (October 2019) – Carlsson, P – Marin, M
Update (October 2019) – Oleksienko, M – Mousavi, S
Update (October 2019) – Garcia Trobat – Marin, M
Test Section
French Defense – Play the Winawer against 3.Nc3
Introduction
French Strategy – Blocked Center
Chapter 1 – Introduction + rare lines
Chapter 2 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qg4
Chapter 3 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd2
Chapter 4 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bd3
Chapter 5 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3
Chapter 6 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nge2
Chapter 7 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nge2 dxe4 5.a3 Bxc3 6.bxc3 Nc6 7.d5
Chapter 8 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.exd5
Chapter 9 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nge2
Chapter 10 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.a3
Chapter 11 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6
Chapter 12 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.Qg4 Bf8
Chapter 13 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.Qg4 Bf8 6.Bg5
Chapter 14 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.Qg4 Bf8 6.Bg5 Qd7 7.0-0-0
Chapter 15 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.Qg4 Bf8 6.Bg5 Qd7 7.f4
Chapter 16 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.Qg4 Bf8 6.Bg5 Qd7 7.Nf3
Chapter 17 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.Qg4 Bf8 6.h4
Chapter 18 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.Qg4 Bf8 6.Nh3
Chapter 19 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.a3 Bf8
Chapter 20 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.a3 Bf8 6.f4
Chapter 21 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.a3 Bf8 6.Nf3 Ne7
Chapter 22 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.a3 Bf8 6.Nf3 Ne7 7.Bd3
Chapter 23 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.a3 Bf8 6.Nf3 Ne7 7.Bd3 Ba6 8.Nb5
Chapter 24 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.a3 Bf8 6.Nf3 Ne7 7.h4
Chapter 25 – 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.a3 Bf8 6.Nf3 Ne7 7.Bb5+
Update (September 2019) – 5.h4
Update (September 2019) – 6.Nf3
Update (September 2019) – Arjun, K – Marin, M
Update (September 2019) – Donchenko, A – Marin, M
Update (September 2019) – Valmena, J – Marin, M
Update (September 2019) – Popilski, G – Marin, M
Test Section
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