French DefenseC12
McCutcheon Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4
Open on the interactive boardEvery move explained, never a dead end.
Both sides plans
White's plan
Grab space with d4 and, often, e5: the pawn chain smothers Black's kingside and gives a natural attack with f4-f5. The buried c8-bishop is the long-term edge.
Black's plan
The French is a counter-siege: ...d5 challenges e4, then the ...c5 and ...f6 levers gnaw at the white chain from its base. The bad c8-bishop frees itself with ...b6 and ...Ba6, or after ...f6.
The line, move by move
- 1. e4e4 occupies the center.
- ... e6e6 controls d5.
- 2. d4d4 occupies the center.
- ... d5d5 strikes at the center.
- 3. Nc3Nc3 develops the knight and controls e4 and d5.
- ... Nf6Nf6 develops the knight and controls e4 and d5.
- 4. Bg5Bg5 develops the bishop.
- ... Bb4Bb4 pins an enemy piece against its king, develops the bishop.