Support the Chess Giant Here!
Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Alapin Gambit Against the French Defense! Chess Openings Explained
For many e4 players with the white pieces, the French Defense has been a hard chess opening to play against. In fact, at one point in history, the French Defense was so good it was considered illegal in tournament chess! In today’s video, we are going over a rare and dangerous response against the French Defense. This is for anyone who is wanting to know how to destroy and dominate the French Defense in epic Mikhail Tal like fashion.
The chess opening itself is called the Alapin Gambit, not to be confused with the Alapin Variation against the Sicilian Defense, but the Alapin Gambit against the French Defense. This opening is dangerous, first off because it is good, second because most French Defense players are not prepared for it. I’ve been playing chess for 15 years and haven’t heard of it until last month! As rare as it is, white has had huge success with it at the grandmaster level. And if chess grandmasters are playing it, I think the rest of us can too! In this video we go over chess opening strategy, chess opening theory, chess opening tricks, chess opening tips, chess opening ideas, chess opening moves, chess opening tricks to win fast, secret checkmate strategy, and chess opening principles. We also go over general chess strategy, chess moves, chess ideas, chess tricks, chess tips, chess principles, and more! In this chess openings video, we are looking to answer questions such as…
How can I play against the French Defense?
What is the best attacking variation against the French Defense?
Best response to French Defense?
How can I surprise my French Defense opponents?
How can I beat the French Defense?
How can I destroy the French Defense?
How can I attack the French Defense?
What is a good chess opening repertoire against the French Defense?
The Alapin Gambit really is a good option against the French Defense, both for grandmasters and beginners. We hope you enjoy learning how to play the Alapin Gambit!
SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE CHESS RELATED CONTENT!
Interested in PRIVATE LESSONS? Here’s the link!
Join me on Patreon! (Rewards and benefits included!)
Support the Chess Giant Here!
Follow THE CHESS GIANT on social media
Instagram //
Twitter //
Facebook //
Video and channel designs by COASTLAND CREATIVE
Website //
Instagram //
This is a good one.
the french defense was made illegal? id like to hear about that
"And after c6"… That line is the 10th most played, used only 2% of the time. It is flagged by Stockfish as a mistake. There are 8, more common moves, that have a higher win percentage for black. I don't mean to be overly critical but considering the f pawn is accepted around 80% of the time it would have been useful to actually go over some of the most common lines rather than showing an inaccuracy that only 1 in 50 people play.
I am giving this a try; however, as often happens, my opponent didn’t follow the script—he played pawn to e5 on move four.
I basically play this with the diemer duhm its just a different move order or I play the advanced variation. I feel like the regular french is easy to beat. But the franco benoni french is probably the hardest to play against.
Can you make a video about the alapin sicilian? Thanks! Love you videos
I play it! it's the only gambit I could get trench weasels to accept, and I play the gedult BDG against scandinavian and mieses gambit carokann which are VERY SIMILAR! seems like people should play all 3
Fabulous. One of the best things I've seen against the French Defense.
Are there PGNs available? Love your stuff!
Appreciate you, thanks for the great video!
Thanks for the shout out. I'll be putting this to good use against my friend.
Yo bro. Im loving this opening. I usually destroy the french with the wing gambit but imma have to try this opening. Great video!
Thank you so much!!
I suppose, this is also for blitz and bullet?
I also enjoy all moves countering semi open games, I dont' know why I have some issues with them.
My new favorite chess channel. Thanks so much.
Do you have a video explaining the the most known openings? What is the London, Caro Kahn, kings Indian, etc.. thanks!
Nice video bro! I've been playing this at 2200 Lichess elo for almost a year now… so surprised how little is known about it and I've scored many wins from a brutal kingside attack. I actually like playing 4. f3 instantly as I really dislike the annoying 4. Nd2 Nf6 5. f3 Nd5. The resulting position still has a nice initiative but without the DSB the whole game plan changes. If you play 4. f3 immediately then you either get 4. … exf3 which ya want, if Black "declines" the gambit you get 4. … Nf6 5. fxe4 Nxe4 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. Nf3 and that's still exactly what you wanted as well. The important thing is if Black tries to get your DSB with 7. … Nd5 then 8. Bd2 (No Knight on d2 blocking this move, Bf2 would be a sad retreat from the lovely diagonal). I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to almost guarantee keeping the Bishop pair and I think this move order achieves it. Of course 4. Nd2 is also good, but food for thought 🙂
EDIT: Also like you showed at the end of your video 3. … Nf6 4. e5 just looks like an bad advanced French. That Knight on d7 looks just looks horrible. I'm probably happier to see 3. … Nf6 than the gambit line since the resulting position is just a clear advantage with an attack.
i love that opening … rare the players who play the good line for black 5…Nd5 followe by 6…Nc6 or take white black bishop early cause those lines are difficult and make playing this opening against very strong players an issue
Super interesting thx!! 👍🏽
nice info, thanks sir…
Thanks for the lesson against the french wich is one of the most dificult openings for me to face
After the main variation with the move c3 if black plays bishop takes g1 Rook takes g1 Qb6 we simply castle long !!
Interesting but some very lame moves given for black make it seem better than it is. Why for example, in the accepted line would black even consider c6 above moves such as Nd5?
How does this Alapin Gambit against French compare with the Steiner Orthoschnapp Gambit against the French? which Gambit has a higher success rate, and why?