[Event "4.Bg5 dxe4"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/cPClFn0l/Kx7wMQcR"] [Date "2022.11.02"] [White "French Defence"] [Black "Burn Variation with 7...f5"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "mistr"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C11"] [Opening "French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Morozevich Line"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/cPClFn0l/Kx7wMQcR"] [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... f5 { This is the most natural and historically - most common move played in this position. Black kicks the knight from e4 away from the center and opens up the diagonal for the be bishop. The downside is that Black spends a tempo to kick the knight to a square where it can potentially help with the thematic d5 pawn break - which is why recently delaying f5 has been becoming more and more popular. } { [%cal Rf5e4] } 8. Nc3 { Probably the best retreat, albeit a bit counterintuitive. White takes the d5 square under control, in order to be able to meet the advance of the c5 pawn with d5. However, the knight is blocking the c-pawn here - and can also be in the way of the a6-b5 idea. } { [%cal Gd4d5,Gc3d5] } (8. Ng3 { Retreating the knight to g3 makes some sense as in some cases, White can try to create the pin along the e-file and then threaten some Nxf5 ideas. However, the downside of this move is that it doesn't really account for the possibility of Black striking with c5 at once. }) 8... a6 { A very thematic move for this variation, which we have already seen in the scenario where Black pushed f5. Here, the situation is different - White's knight has been kicked away from e4 (so some Nc5 jumps are not something that should worry us). But on the other hand, the knight helps control the d5 square and makes this central advance a constant idea Black needs to keep in mind. } { [%cal Gd4d5] } (8... c5 { In contrast to the variation with the knight on g3, this is not good as White can justify the position of the knight on c3 with the thematic pawn advance. } 9. d5 { This is very uncomfortable for Black as now it is a bit difficult to develop the pieces as the e6 pawn can easily come under pressure and it is best to avoid this altogether. } { [%csl Rc5,Gd5] }) 9. g3 { The most popular - and arguably the best way of handling this position. White anticipated that Black will fianchetto the bishop on b7 and gives up on any aggressive ideas associated with the queenside castling. Instead, White fianchettoes the bishop to g2 and opposes it to the one on b7 and intends to castle short and play in a rather more positional manner. } { [%cal Gf1g2,Ge1g1] } 9... b5 { The point of the previous move - preparing to fianchetto the bishop to b7. } { [%cal Gc8b7] } 10. Bg2 Bb7 11. O-O c5 { Is possible, but it allows us to demonstrate one of the reasons why it is good for White to have the knight on c3 early. } (11... O-O { A more natural move that is analyzed more deeply in the main file. }) 12. d5!? b4 13. dxe6 { A very tricky and dangerous piece sacrifice line! } 13... bxc3 14. exf7+ Kf8 15. Qe2 { Very sharp and unclear, can easily go all ways. } *