French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack
French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack is a chess opening with the ECO code C10, part of the French Defense family. It goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. c3. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e6. After 13 moves it is Black 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. Nd2 – White plays the knight to d2
3... dxe4 – Black captures on e4 with the d-pawn
4. Nxe4 – White takes on e4 with the knight
4... Nd7 – Black plays the knight to d7
5. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
5... Ngf6 – Black plays the knight to f6
6. Nxf6+ – White takes on f6 with the knight, giving check
6... Nxf6 – Black takes on f6 with the knight
The line goes on for 1 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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