The WCh French

by ChessBase
5/19/2025 – In ChnessBase Magazine, our team of authors regularly explores new ideas and current trends in opening theory. CBM #225 once again offers ten opening articles – from a Dutch setup against the London System to 9...Bg4 in the Alapin Sicilian to the Queen's Indian with 8.Bd2. In his theory article, Robert Ris examines Gukesh's 7.a3!? in the Classical System of the French Defense – a "useful waiting move" that opens up various options for Black while simultaneously giving him the chance to make an early mistake. Ris' starting point is game 13 of the World Championship match between Gukesh and Ding Liren at the end of last year. The IM from the Netherlands also analyses two games by Magnus Carlsen, who adopted Gukesh's idea just a few days later against Nepomniachtchi. You can check out the article with all the analyses in this week's free CBM sample. Don't miss it!
Chess Festival Prague 2025 with analyses by Aravindh, Giri, Gurel, Navara and others. ‘Special’: 27 highly entertaining miniatures. Opening videos by Werle, King and Ris. 10 opening articles with new repertoire ideas and much more.
ChessBase Magazine offers first-class training material for club players and professionals! World-class players analyse their brilliant games and explain the ideas behind the moves. Opening specialists present the latest trends in opening theory and exciting ideas for your repertoire. Master trainers in tactics, strategy and endgames show you the tricks and techniques you need to be a successful tournament player! Available as a direct download (incl. booklet as pdf file) or booklet with download key by post.
Included in delivery: ChessBase Magazine #225 as “ChessBase Book” for iPad, tablet, Mac etc.!
 

"The WCh French" – free reading sample from ChessBase Magazine #225

Click on one of the following graphics to load the sample in your web browser!

"In the well-known variation of the Classical French, Gukesh opted for the setup with White's knight dropping back from c3 to e2, with the aim of strengthening his pawn chain with c2-c3 soon after. This idea is not new and has been employed already many times by strong grandmasters. A typical French battle follows in which White aims to hold on to his space advantage and Black attempts to challenge White's chain. White's main options here are 7.f4 and 7.Nf3, both leading to interesting play with chances for both sides.

Gukesh instead decided to try the relatively unknown 7.a3!?:

A useful waiting move. Black has a lot of interesting options so let's have a closer look."

In his article, Robert Ris examines the following five continuations: A) 7...Qb6?!, B) 7...Be7, C) 7...a5, D) 7...b5 and E) 7...cxd4 8.cxd4 f6.

Ris: "7.a3!? is leading to a fascinating and complicated middlegame battle in which White tries hard to build up attacking chances thanks to their space advantage in the centre. Not many games have been played recently, but the fact that the system has been employed by both Gukesh and Carlsen and that Black players Ding Liren and Nepomniachtchi got into some serious trouble, indicates that matters aren't that simple at all."

Highlights of ChessBase Magazine #225

From the Prague 2025 Chess Festival to Jan Werle's opening video on the London System and the ‘Special’ with 27 highly entertaining miniatures and Mihail Marin's strategy article ‘Outposts on open files” to Dr Karsten Mueller's video series “Fundamental Endgame Knowledge”.

Over 7 hours of video playing time with Daniel King, Jan Markos, Mihail Marin, Dr. Karsten Mueller, Michael Prusikin, Oliver Reeh, Robert Ris, Dorian Rogozenco and Jan Werle await you!

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Topics: ChessBase Magazine, French Defence, Gukesh, Robert Ris
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See also

Win like Aravindh!

5/2/2025 – In his CBM column "Move by Move", Robert Ris regularly invites you to broaden your horizons and improve your own understanding of chess using the example of a current world-class game. For the current ChessBase Magazine #225, he has chosen a game by Aravindh Chithambaram, the winner of the Prague 2025 Chess Festival. In the first reading sample from CBM #225, we offer you the interactive video contributions today and in the coming days as free training session. Give it a try and have fun!
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See also

Improved Fort Knox

3/10/2025 – In the classic Fort Knox Variation (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bd7), Black maneuvers the light-squared bishop to c6 in order to exchange it for a white knight and establish a super-solid setup. Yago Santiago discovered a new - and even safer - way of playing the Fort Knox in some of Arjun Erigaisi's games: In his opening article for the current CBM #224, Santiago presents the variation 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bd7!? If White now reacts with 6.Nxf6+, he must be prepared for major complications after 6...gxf6! You can read the full article with all the annotated games this week as a free sample with your web browser in the ChessBase Books format!
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Video

60m English A practical repertoire against the scotch

For a long time the Scotch opening was considered harmless and rarely played. This changed in 1990 when Garry Kasparov successfully employed the Scotch opening in his World Championship match against Anatoly Karpov. But that was 25 years ago. Now, there is no need to panic if you want to play 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 and need a line against the Scotch. On this 60 Minutes renowned and successful coach Adrian Mikhalchishin gives simple practical tips how to neutralize and counter the Scotch.
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