Chess Opening Secrets Revealed*: Chess: Understanding the French Defense (Transpositionally) Part III

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 e4 Nf6 4 e5 Ng8 5 Nf3 Bg4
6 Be2 e6 7 O-O Nge7 8 Nh4 Bxe2 9 Nxe2 Ng6
10 Nf3 Be7 11 Be3 O-O Line

What's the game plan for White?

* Establish a d4-e5 pawn chain and solidify
its d4 base. The advance c2-c3 works well
towards that end.
* Where possible, re-develop the f3 knight,
and then take a swipe at the base of Black's
pawn chain via f2-f4-f5.

What's the game plan for Black?

* Entice White into releasing the d5 tension.
Once that's achieved, Black can delay the
solidifying ... e6 until after the light-squared
bishop is developed.
* Aim for a timely ... c5 and ... f6. The idea
is to disrupt White's central pawn chain.

1 d4

1 ... d5

1 ... Nc6

2 Nc3

2 ... Nc6

2 ... Nf6
2 ... f5
2 ... e6
2 ... Bf5
2 ... c6
2 ... g6
2 ... c5
2 ... e5

3 e4

The d5 pawn is now attacked twice, but,
it's protected only once.

3 g3 Nf6 4 Bg2.

3 ... Nf6

The best form of defense is offense.
White's e4 pawn is about to be captured.

3 ... e6
3 ... dxe4
3 ... e5? 4 dxe5 d4 5 Nd5 f5 6 exf6 Nxf6 7 Bg5 Be6
8 Bxf6 gxf6 9 Bc4 Bb4+ 10 Nxb4 Bxc4 11 Nxc6 bxc6
12 Qh5+ Bf7 13 Qc5 Qd6 14 Qxd6 cxd6.

4 e5

Attacking the attacker and also gaining ground.

4 exd5
4 f3

4 ... Ng8

On the outset this move looks regressive.
However, the knight has persuaded White
to relinquish the d5 pressure, thereby
enabling Black to delay the solidifying
... e6 until after the light squared
bishop is mobilized. Moreover, the
knight can always be brought back
into the game via Ng8-e7-g6.

4 ... Nd7
4 ... Ne4

5 Nf3