Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nc3/3...Nf6/4. Bg5/4...Be7

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< Chess Opening Theory‎ | 1. e4‎ | 1...e6‎ | 2. d4‎ | 2...d5‎ | 3. Nc3‎ | 3...Nf6‎ | 4. Bg5
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Classical variation
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqk2r/ppp1bppp/4pn2/3p2B1/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R2QKBNR w

Moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7

Classical variation[edit | edit source]

Because Nf6 is no longer pinned, Black threatens to win the e4-pawn.
The attempt to defend the e4-pawn, e.g. by 5.f3?! or 5.Bd3?!, will still lose the pawn, because White's Bg5 is not defended, so Black can simply play 5...Nxe4! and win a pawn (6. Bxe7 Nxc3 7. Bxd8 Nxd1 8. Bxc7 Nxb2 -/+).
That's why White either plays the e4-pawn to a safe square (Main Line - 5.e5), or eliminates an attacker of e4 (5.Bxf6). A safe alternative is a transposition to the Exchange Variation (5.exd5).

Theory table[edit | edit source]

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7
5
Main Line e5 =
1 Bxf6 =
2 exd5 =

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References[edit | edit source]

Wikipedia has related information at French Defence

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