Outfox the French The Horwitz Attack for White PGN Only Feb 06, 2024 Chessable

Corral French Defense Players into the Wild West with the Horwitz Attack

The French Defense can be one of the most frustrating openings 1.e4 players face.

But with the Horwitz Attack (1.e4 e6 2.b3 d5 3.Bb2), you avoid some of the traditional theory-heavy replies and the often dull Exchange Variation by going for an offbeat line with a solid foundation for middlegame plans.

How?

You initially give up your center by allowing a capture of your 1.e4 pawn, opting for fast development with a queenside fianchetto. The resulting middlegames basically play themselves. Just continue placing pressure on Black’s weak pawns and squares until they crack.

Black’s probably not spent a lot of time preparing against this one, which is another point in its favor.

Outfox the French: The Horwitz Attack for White is Chessable’s first and most definitive course on this unique method to dismantle the French. It’s compact and packs a real punch, coming in at under 200 trainable variations. All with detailed move-by-move annotations so you’re always on the ball.

Here’s your anti-French roadmap:

♝The Open Horwitz (3…dxe4) – Black’s most common response, you give up a central pawn, opting for rapid development and clearing the way for your pieces to control the center. More often than not you’ll get the pawn back with a developmental lead and a fierce queenside castle ready to attack.

Black decides to hold on to the extra material? No problem! Just compare each side’s development

♝The Closed Horwitz (3…Nf6) Grab central space and be in no rush to attack as you have time to stabilize your center and develop your pieces to good squares preparing a precision strike. An innovation on move 7 that is full of subtleties, madman tactics, and deep positional maneuvers!

♝Quick and easy antidotes for all deviations and sidelines – though rarely played, you can be fully prepared with an anti-French repertoire by covering all the gaps against any other tries Black might go for