This is a highly entertaining and original book of over 500 short games and notes, featuring mostly obscure lines. It is a must for the devoted French aficionado. International Master Nikolay Minev has been recognized as an expert in the French Defense at least since his contributions to the 1981 edition of Encyclopedia of Chess Openings Volume C (ECO). Subsequent to that, in 1988, he authored his own book on the French, consisting of 450 complete games, all miniatures (most ended in less than 20 moves), covering all lines of the opening. His current work, "French Defense 2: New and Forgotten Ideas", is an update to the 1988 edition, with more and longer games.