French DefenseC14

Classical Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7

Every 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.
... Be7Be7 develops the bishop.
5. e5e5 attacks the knight, occupies the center.
... Nfd7Nfd7 controls e5.
6. Bxe7Bxe7 captures the bishop, attacks the queen.
... Qxe7Qxe7 captures the bishop.

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Other major variations

The complete French Defense guide See all 212 variations in the branch map