Petrosian played it, Morozevich plays it. Good enough reason for you and I both to become well versed in the black side of the French.The question is whether to delve into the classical defense which occurs after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 (Morozevich's preference) or the winawer which occurs after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 (Petrosian's preference). Then there's also the question of how to deal with the tarrasch variation -- when white plays an early Nd2 rather than Nc3. I'll give you the information necessary to make your choice.
The choice you make ultimately depends on what type of game you'd like to see develop. If you follow in the footsteps of Petrosian, you'll have more positional struggles, while Morozevich's french ideas will give you and your opponent chaos to sort out. Either way you'll find yourself never at a loss for ideas in the french defense.
Kibitzing
