The third edition of John Watson’s PLAY THE FRENCH follows well-received books in 1984 and 1996. The new work is not only substantially larger than its predecessors (an extra 50 pages) but also presents the reader a wider and more varied repertoire. The main line Winawer 3...Bb4, 5...Bxc3+, 7...Qa5 continues to provide the backbone, but IM Watson now recommends 7...0-0 versus 7.Qg4 instead of 7...Qc7 as in previous editions. He explains that he thinks the latter is doing fine, but that the theory around this move has grown so huge that it no longer fits into a repertoire book.

There are some other changes in the current volume as well. The first edition liked 4...Qd7 as the Winawer backup line, but this new edition follows the last in sticking with 6...Qc7 as an alternative to the main lines. One very big change has been the inclusion of the rock-solid 4...dxe4 in the Classical variation (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5) which has also necessitated coverage of 4.e5. Another significant departure is IM Watson’s advocacy of 3...Be7 versus 3.Nd2. Like 7...Qc7 in the Winawer, he hasn’t lost faith in 3...Nf6 versus the Tarrasch, but feels theory has gone too deep. Looking at the author’s thorough and conscientious treatment throughout this book, that is saying something! The old anti-Tarrasch treatment 3...c5, 4...Qxd5 returns for a third edition while the chapter on the Advance Variation has been considerably beefed up to reflect its recent popularity.

It’s possible to play the French and have a repertoire that isn’t completely covered in this book (5...Ba5 Winawer and 3...c5, 4...exd5 versus the Tarrasch) but I feel that even these players will still want to get this book for its coverage of the Advance, Closed, Exchange (yes, J.W. analyses this line carefully!) and various sidelines. French players of all levels from club player to professional will benefit from this well researched and well explained guide. John Watson continues his streak of never having written a bad or boring book.

Highly Recommended

Click HERE to see Silman’s review of this book