[Event "4.Bg5 dxe4"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/cPClFn0l/txGEs7Yn"] [Date "2022.11.02"] [White "French Defence"] [Black "Burn Variation - Intro"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "mistr"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C11"] [Opening "French Defense: Burn Variation"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/cPClFn0l/txGEs7Yn"] [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). }) *