💡 Register to GM Igor Smirnov’s FREE Masterclass “The Best Way to Improve at Chess INSTANTLY” –
✅ Join the RCA Affiliate Program, promote our courses, and get 50% commission –
📥 Download the PGN of this opening –
🔹 The BEST Chess Opening for Black Against 1.e4:
🔹 If you want to know more about the rule ‘To take is a mistake’ – check out this video:
In this video lesson, GM Igor Smirnov shares with you an unbeatable opening for Black against the White’s first move 1.e4. It is the Rubinstein Variation from the French Defense, which happens after the following moves: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4.
This variation is named after Akiba Rubinstein and can also arise from a different move order: 3.Nd2 dxe4. White has freer development and more space in the centre, which Black intends to neutralise by playing …c7–c5 at some point.
The great thing about this line for Black is its simplicity. You don’t have to study too much of theory or remember lots of variations. Your setup as Black is almost constant and your position is solid. It is completely risk-free so you can’t lose. You can win though if your opponent makes a small mistake. Watch the video lesson as GM Igor Smirnov explains the common ideas for Black in this solid opening.
▬▬▬▬▬▬
► Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:24 Warm up: a question for you
01:30 Rubinstein Variation in French Defense
03:10 Solid line – Fianchetto setup
04:11 c5 – key move in Black’s setup
05:52 What if White castles queenside?
07:30 Aggressive and immediate c5
09:26 Be careful of this tactics
10:14 How to earn money with chess?
12:12 Prepare your attack
13:19 Sideline-1: White playing Bd3
14:23 Sideline-2: White playing Bg5
15:03 Beware of the tactics, again!
16:34 Solution to the puzzle
📗 Free chess courses –
💡 Premium chess courses –
#GMSmirnov #ChessOpenings #FrenchDefense
First like
Love from Bangladesh
1st like and comment
Thank you very very helpful
exactly 50th view
no black should not take the pawn
les gooo top 10th comment
The best to counter king gambit is king pawn +bishop opening.Actually very easy to counter queen gambit .It depends on your queen position and horse .Just sacrifice pawn and bishop
I was unimaginatively thinking about a long side castle
Thanks, Igor French defense is my only opening from against e4. and I am very strong and learnt every line in French.
Some of us watch videos on the TV and aren't able to click on links to see the solution to the puzzle. It would be appreciated if you'd provide them in the video so we don't have to use another device to see them.
And even then I can't find the link. I feel like I'm being manipulated and I don't appreciate that.
15th comment love from england
First of all I love your Channel, I don't know what to do but you can't take that pawne because during the exchange he will check your king with a bishop and take your queen for free
Where’s the link to the puzzle solution?? There’s lots of links in the description!!
Advanced variation spoils the attractiveness of the Rubinstein in a large extent. You should know a lot of theory.
I would say not to take as if you do NxD4 then White does NxD4, black does QxD4 would be followed by white doing BG6+ which would win the Black queen? Or am I missing something (which could well be the case knowing how bad I am at chess!!!)
Great videos, I really enjoy these. Keep them coming
Great lessons
Very nice video, please make more about the rubinstein
My son is a monster. I am having problems beating him. He is only 13.
I like the first explanation of the French defense.
Hi. I can t find the link to the solution. Does anybody know where i can find it
11:45 Very interestin option for Black (6… c5). Instead of 7. dxc5, White can play better, I think, 7. 0-0, and if Black continues with 7 … Nxe4 8.Bxe4 Nf6 9. Bg5 cxd4 10. Cxd4 White is a little better, he is ahead in development, and all of his pieces stand on active squares. However, there is much to discuss and nothing has been decided yet. Thanks a lot, please keep your good work up!
Unbeatable?? I dont think so. It's a ploy to get you to watch it. Next opening will come out "Crush your opponent with e4. That's what these authors do. Change your descriptions to something that doesn't insult our intelligence. Another GM would never agree to Unbeatable, however your videos are informative. Thanks
► Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:24 Warm up: a question for you
01:30 Rubinstein Variation in French Defense
03:10 Solid line – Fianchetto setup
04:11 c5 – key move in Black's setup
05:52 What if White castles queenside?
07:30 Aggressive and immediate c5
09:26 Be careful of this tactics
10:14 How to earn money with chess?
12:12 Prepare your attack
13:19 Sideline-1: White playing Bd3
14:23 Sideline-2: White playing Bg5
15:03 Beware of the tactics, again!
16:34 Solution to the puzzle
Nd4 is correct
I don't know about this: the database I use shows white winning 40% of all games where black uses the Rubinstein with 4…. Nd7. I like the French, but I'm not sure about this one.
good
Great videos
You may call it UNBEATABLE, but statistics show about 40% wins for white and just about 20% wins for black in this opening. Wheter b6 or c5, white uses the same weapon – Queen E2. (Positions at 3:49 and 8:32). Your video doesnt even mention those two lines, it is incomplete and misleading!
He shouldn’t take, white will have a revealed attack with the bishop and queen I’m assuming?
French is NOT a good opening choice. As far as I know, NONE of the world's top 30 GM's even use the French Defense.
Before you "buy in" into any opening choice, you should consult the databases and see how many of the world's best players actually play those lines.
Frankly.. this opening is really REALLY BAD! As if ppl ever let u capture that first pawn. They just close down the center. This is "The french school of suffering." Avoid.
Unbeatable? If it's unbeatable, why aren't all the GMs using it? Click bait.
A little disappointed here. The promised solution was not given and I don't see a link to it either. You should keep your word!
The solution for the puzzle is: If Nxd4 then White simply answers with Nxd4, which loses the knight. If Black captures back with Qxd4, it loses the Queen after Bg6+ discovered attack to the Queen.
Where is the solution for the puzzle? 16:34 Is not the solution.
Hi Igor, I am loving your content, as |I am trying to renew my chess after a lay off. I was in excess of 2000 elo or 175 BCF in my day, but reached 63 years of age now, so past my best. The puzzle in the opening 30 seconds is as follows. You lose a piece or lose your queen if you go too far. The line is that if you go Nxd4,NxN,QxN then Bg6 check sacking the Bishop wins the queen. It is very similar to a French Defense trap in the UK known as the Milner Barry gambit.
PS I used to play this opening, but with a difference. After the Rubinstein where the pawn has been retaken with the Knight. I used to play Qd5 hitting the Knight. This was pioneered by somebody called Katalimov. It was a great surprise weapon.
Question: When White has pawns on E4 and D4, you have pawns on E6 and just moved one to D5, What do you do if White moves their pawn to E5?
[FEN "r3k2r/pp1b2pp/1qnbpn2/3p4/3P4/P1NB1N2/1P3PPP/R1BQ1RK1 b kq – 0 1"]
Hm … (White) Bg6+ ?
What about:
1… Nxd4 2. Nxd4 Qxd4 3. Bg6 hxg6 4. Qxd4? Bxh2! 5. Kh1 Be5 6. Kg1 Bxd4 *
What do i overlook ?
Do NOT take that pawn. After the exchange white can check your King with Bg6 winning your Queen
Puzzle at 16 min 40 sec. Don't see the solution but it looks safe for Black to take the d4 pawn. Black can lose his Queen but so will White.
1. … Nxd4
2. Nxd4 Qxd4
3. Bg6+ hxg6
4. Qxd4 Bxh2+
5. Kh1 Be5+
6. Kg1 Bxd4
Hi, igor can you make a content on caro-kann as well?
no we should not take it cuz there is bd3
Do not capture, there is a tactic which the Queen could be trapped.
1st puzzle "Should Black take on d4?" I say YES. here is why: Nc6xd4. Nf3xNd4. Qb6xNd4. Bg6 (discover check on Black'sQueen)! h7xBg6. (opening black's h-file) White to move: Qd1xQd4. Black then goes Bd6xe2!. Kh1. than Black has a discover check on White's queen with Bh7 to e5!. In that sequence Black wins a pawn, a Knight, a Bishop and a Queen for a Knight and a Queen. Black wins that exchange gaining a pawn, a minor piece and position. I haven't looked at the comments yet but i suspect this is the answer
Unbeatable? Wow, we should keep it a secret.
Title states unbeatable. First two seconds of the video, “ an opening where you might actually win.” Hmmmm
The comments below for the puzzle which say black loses the queen are premature. Black does Nxd4, and white NxN. Then key is Bxh2+ to draw the white king out in the open and exposed to a discovered check if White plays Bg6+. So, moving along after white Kxh2, now Qxd4 is safe, and Black pivots up the king side against the white king before White can defend (black Q-h4+ then N-g4 to assist mate). White can try to defend by giving back the extra piece, but will eventually lose to h & g pawn pushes backed by two rooks.
Sir e4, e6, d4, d5 then e5 goes to french diffence advanced variation. You did not explained that