---
title: Aronian's Weapon against the French
description: In this post i going to show you the idea that Levon Aronian is employing to face the french defence in the steinitz variation.
image: https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=CTFlx9IC-YMR.webp&w=880&sig=3cbf2d99f7f50c985c6ea632d4d518e03f776846
---

## Crushing Attack vs Bluebaum

Yesterday in the Biel festival Aronian dominates the event with 4.5/5 in the rapids and in the last round he made this great game
https://lichess.org/study/JfvzUwFx/ICMW59ce#1

## His first try vs Sevian

This was the first time that he employed this move some months ago
https://lichess.org/study/JfvzUwFx/rEcpMwBv#13

## Good Knight vs Bad Bishop

The light squares bishop in the french is a bad piece and this game shows great how to punish that
https://lichess.org/study/JfvzUwFx/wY1QYMFL#13

## 7...Nxd4

The knight capture is the move with the best score for black but this correspondence game shows a great plan to face this move
https://lichess.org/study/JfvzUwFx/SUS4A4ip#13
In this post i shared good victories vs the 3 ways that black have to face 7.Bd3, both captures on d4 who are the good moves and the inaccurate a6 b5 plan of Bluebaum but many people employes that move so is usefull to know how to punish it.
I hope that you enjoy this idea of Levon and you can employed that in your own games to beat the french defence, for more interesting opening ideas i have a [SERIE](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2mvKDsLhxP3lqjLS4U_7NaMArC1hljQl&si=2idP-1megumKyu9D) in my youtube channel with 20 videos so check it to surprise your opponents in the opening, bye bye