[Event "Burn Variation Of The French Defence: French Defence - Burn Variation without 7...f5"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/cPClFn0l/7m2P2d1X"] [Date "2022.11.02"] [White "French Defence"] [Black "Burn Variation without 7...f5"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "mistr"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C11"] [Opening "French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Morozevich Line"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/cPClFn0l/7m2P2d1X"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 { With this bishop move, White initiates a very popular variation of the French Defence that, surprisingly enough, doesn't have a proper name (at least not at this point). The idea is simple - White is violating the principle of developing the knights before the bishops in order to put the pressure on the knight on f6 and - consequently - the central pan on d5. -- According to my database, this is the most popular move in this position and is definitely one that any 3...Nf6 French Defence player has to prepare for. } { [%cal Rg5d8] } 4... dxe4 { This exchanging maneuver in the center, reminscent of the so-called Rubinstein variation, might actually be the best way to handle this position. At first glance, this seems like a concession as Black is surrendering the center, but they are trying to make an argument that the knight will be drawn to e4 and then somewhat exposed - especially since the bishop is already on g5. --- Even though traditionally, 4...Be7 has been the more popular move, if I were to recommend a weapon against 4.Bg5, I would definitely recommend this one - I have even played it once myself in a serious tournament game. } 5. Nxe4 Be7 { The point of Black's play. Now the knight on e4 is under the attack and the bishop on g5 is also prone to exchanging. Black is trying to make an argument that the piece exchanges will favour them as they have less space (and traditionally, exchanges favour the player with less space in the majority of cases). } { [%csl Re4,Rg5][%cal Re7g5,Rf6e4] } (5... Nbd7 { Black can also try reinforcing the knight with Nbd7, but here we transpose to a variation of the Rubinstein defence that will be examined in the video/file dedicated to that variation (3...dxe4). }) 6. Bxf6 { In my opinion, this is the most ambitious move in the position, exchanging only one pair of minor pieces and keeping the knight on e4 on the board. It is true that White is giving up the bishop pair, but in return, we either game some time or ruin Black's pawn structure, depending how Black recaptures. Furthermore, the knight on e4 also controls the important c5 square, preventing Black's liberating c5 push (at least for now). } { [%csl Ge4][%cal Ge4c5] } (6. Nxf6+ { White can also take on f6 here, but it feels less ambitious as it leads to quite a few exchanges - which should nominally benefit Black as they have less space here. } 6... Bxf6 7. Bxf6 { Nothing else makes much sense. } 7... Qxf6 8. Nf3 { White continues developing normally, but Black essentially has a reasonable version of the Rubinstein variation. It is very difficult to prevent them from playing the liberating c5 push. There are plenty of games with Grischuk with Black from this position. } 8... O-O 9. Bd3 { By far the main move here. White has some other options, but I feel Black should be very happy with the outcome of the opening after playing c5 on the next move anyway. } 9... c5 { And due to the hanging b2 pawn the c5 pawn can't be taken so Black should be reasonably happy here. Rd8, Nc6 are all coming, etc. There are no problems with development and no weaknesses, which is the reason why 6. Nxf6 is not as popular as 6. Bxf6. } { [%cal Rf6b2] }) 6... gxf6 { The most ambitious and fighting approach in this position, as it leads to a very imbalanced position. Black voluntarily doubles the pawns, but claims that the open g-file, the bishop pair and the potential to kick the knight from e4 with f5 next all provide compensation for the ruined pawn structure. Furthermore, Black keeps the bishop on e7 where it helps prepare the central c5 pawn advance. } { [%csl Gc5,Gf6,Gf7][%cal Ge7c5,Gc7c5,Gh8g8,Gf6f5] } 7. Nf3 { The starting point of the variation. Now Black has the first decision to make - do they want to include f5 immediately, or do they want to wait a bit before doing so. } 7... a6 { Apart from the move 7...f5, forcing the knight away from e4, the text move, preparing to fianchetto the bishop with b5-Bb7 next, is the second big option and main move in the position. Black doesn't want to chase the knight to c3 and think about d5 resources all the time. On the other hand, the downside of keeping the knight on e4 is the fact that it can access the c5 square - which becomes especially relevant once Black plays b5. So there is definitely pro and contra when it comes to including f5 and both approaches have the right to exist. } { [%cal Ga6b5,Gb7b5] } 8. g3 { Just like in variations with f5 included, this is the main reply to Black's idea of fianchettoing the bishop - and the nature of the play is fairly similar (not to mention that Black can include f5 and transpose at any moment). } 8... b5 { At this point, it is probably better to include f5 and chase the knight away from e4 as in this positional line, the added option of having it on e4 becomes surprisingly relevant - especially once White moves the queen away from d1 and introduces the idea of playing Rd1. } 9. Bg2 Bb7 { Developing the bishop to the long diagonal and attacking the knight on e4. Alas, now White can switch plans and maintain the knight on e4. } { [%cal Rb7g2] } (9... f5 { Now is probably the last chance to include f5 and chase the knight away as jumping to c5 is not as good with the queen on d1. } { [%cal Rf5e4] } 10. Nc5 Bxc5 11. dxc5 Qxd1+ 12. Rxd1 Bb7 { With the queens exchanged, this position is perfectly acceptable for Black. The king will be perfectly safe on e7. } { [%cal Ge8e7] }) 10. Qe2 { White brings the queen to e2 and vacates the d1 square. More importantly - now the knight has the option of jumping to c5 as Black no longer has the option of exchanging the queens in case they take on c5. } { [%csl Gd1][%cal Ge2e4,Ga1d1] } 10... Nd7 { The main move in the position, but I am really a bit sceptical about Black's setup (even though some very strong players such as Vitiugov, Short and Morozevich played this with Black). As mentioned earlier - the issue is that now Nc5 will be a strong resource in many cases. } (10... f5 11. Nc5 { Might be an option for Black, though. The point is that the knight hasn't been developed to d7 so it has the option to go to c6, e.g. } 11... Bxc5 12. dxc5 Be4 13. O-O Nc6 { Although A) This is very computerish and B) White nevertheless retains the edge in this position, despite the fact that the pawn on c5 can be potentially weak. }) 11. O-O f5 { And now White has the option of going back to the 7...f5 lines or play more energetically by jumping to c5. } 12. Nc5 { The point is that the pawn can't be captured due to the critical Qe5 double attack, e.g. } 12... Bxc5 (12... Nxc5 13. dxc5 Bf6 { Is probably better, but then after } 14. Rad1 Qe7 15. b4 { White obtains a very reasonable position with hopes of exploiting the defects in Black's pawn structure. Note that White will eliminate the bishop pair with ease after Ne5/ Nd4 due to the staredown contest between the two light-squared bishops. } { [%cal Rg2b7,Rb7g2,Gf3d4] }) 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Qe5 { [%cal Re5c5,Re5h8] } *