French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line
French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line is a chess opening with the ECO code C13, part of the French Defense family. It goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e6. After 14 moves it is White to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
1... e6 – Black plays the pawn to e6
2. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
2... d5 – Black plays the pawn to d5
3. Nc3 – White plays the knight to c3
3... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6
4. Bg5 – White plays the bishop to g5
4... dxe4 – Black captures on e4 with the d-pawn
5. Nxe4 – White takes on e4 with the knight
5... Be7 – Black plays the bishop to e7
6. Bxf6 – White takes on f6 with the bishop
6... Bxf6 – Black takes on f6 with the bishop
The line goes on for 2 more moves; the lesson shows them all.
About the French Defense
Black answers 1.e4 with 1...e6 and then ...d5, attacking White's centre. Black accepts a little less space for a very solid position.
If White plays e5, pawn chains form: White attacks on the kingside, Black on the queenside.
Black hits the chain at its base with ...c5 and adds pressure with ...Nc6 and ...Qb6.
The light-squared bishop on c8 is often passive; Black may trade it or free it with ...b6 and ...Ba6.
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