A fortress with a counterpunch · for Black · medium
Traced to an 1834 correspondence match won by Paris — hence the name. A fortress philosophy: invite White forward, then chop the pawn chain down. Botvinnik and Korchnoi trusted it for decades.
Built from millions of real games in your rating range — not master theory you'll never see:
e5 — played in 58% of games at club level
d5 — played in 10% of games at club level
c5 — played in 7% of games at club level
e6 — played in 7% of games at club level
c6 — played in 7% of games at club level
Every move explained
e6: The French: one quiet move that promises a fight. You’ll strike the center with ...d5 next and dare them to hold it.
d5: There’s the challenge. White must push, trade, or defend — and every choice tells you exactly what plan to use.
d5: They’re playing slow — take the center they declined. You’re the one with the space now.
Chess Openings is a free trainer: the bot plays the replies real opponents choose at your level, every move is graded, and your weak spots get retested until they stick.