Classical: 4.Bg5 Be7 is variation 6 of 6 in the French Defence course, a intermediate opening course for Black (ECO C13). It runs 18 moves and begins 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 …. White pins the f6 knight. Black unpins with 4...Be7; after 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 Black has traded the bad dark-squared bishop problem away and gets play with ...a6, ...c5 and ...Nc6. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. e4 – White takes the centre and opens lines for the queen and the f1 bishop.
1... e6 – Black prepares ...d5 with the e6 pawn as a solid support.
2. d4 – White builds the classical two-pawn centre.
2... d5 – Black challenges e4 at once.
3. Nc3 – The knight defends e4 and develops.
3... Nf6 – The Classical French: Black adds a second attacker on e4.
4. Bg5 – White pins the f6 knight, so it no longer really attacks e4.
4... Be7 – The classical answer: Black breaks the pin and develops.
5. e5 – White gains space and kicks the f6 knight.
5... Nfd7 – The knight goes to d7 to support ...c5 and avoid being exchanged.
6. Bxe7 – White trades the bishops; this removes Black's bishop, but Black's remaining light-squared bishop is the passive one.
6... Qxe7 – Black recaptures with the queen, which now controls the dark squares and supports ...c5.
7. f4 – White supports e5 and prepares Nf3.
7... a6 – Black prepares ...c5 and ...Nc6 without having to worry about Nb5 hitting c7 or d6.
8. Nf3 – White develops and defends d4 and e5.
8... c5 – The thematic break: Black attacks d4 and opens the c-file.
The lesson goes on for 2 more moves, each with its explanation.
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