Chess: Understanding the French Defense (Transpositionally) Part II

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 e6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Bg5 h6 5 Bxf6 Qxf6
6 e4 Bb4 7 Bd3 O-O 8 O-O Bxc3 9 bxc3 c5
10 Re1 Nc6 11 Rb1 cxd4 12 exd5 exd5
13 Nxd4 Line




What's the game plan for White?

* Aim for an e2-e4 thrust and then capture
on d5. The idea is to isolate and weaken that
point.

What's the game plan for Black?



* Contest for e4 and then attack d4 through
... c7-c5.


1 d4



1 ... d5



1 ... Nc6

2 Nc3



It's all about e4.

2 ... e6



Bolsters d5, although at the c8 bishop's expense.

2 ... Nf6
2 ... f5
2 ... Bf5
2 ... c6
2 ... g6
2 ... Nc6
2 ... Nc6
2 ... c5
2 ... e5

3 Nf3



3 e4
3 Bf4
3 Qd3

3 ... Nf6



3 ... c5
3 ... Bb4
3 ... Nc6

4 Bg5



Eliminating the knight's e4 influence by pinning it
to the Queen.

4 e3
4 Qd3

4 ... h6



But Black immediately prompts a resolution of
the f6 pin.

4 ... Be7
4 ... Bb4
4 ... c6
4 ... Nbd7

5 Bxf6



That's one less competitor for e4.

5 Bh4
5 Bf4

5 ... Qxf6



5 ... gxf6

6 e4



And the key maneuver is realized!

6 e3
6 Qd3
6 a3

6 ... Bb4



Pinning the knight in order to negate its e4 influence.
Now 7 ... dxe4 is threatened.

6 ... c6
6 ... dxe4

7 Bd3



Support for the focal point.

7 e5
7 Bb5+

7 ... O-O



7 ... dxe4
7 ... c5

8 O-O



8 e5
8 Qd2
8 a3

8 ... Bxc3



Saddling White with double pawns.

8 ... c5
8 ... Qd8

9 bxc3



9 e5

9 ... c5



The attack on d4 is a critical theme for
the defense.

9 ... dxe4
9 ... Qf4

10 Re1



Assuming a more active post.

10 Qd2
10 e5
10 Qc1

10 ... Nc6



Mobilization towards d4/e5.

10 ... c4
10 ... b6

11 Rb1



Taking aim at the b7 pawn, just in case Black is
mindless enough to remove its c8 protector.

11 e5
11 Qc1
11 Bb5

11 ... cxd4



11 ... c4
11 ... Rb8
11 ... b6
11 ... Rd8

12 exd5



12 e5
12 cxd4

12 ... exd5



13 Nxd4



Centralizing the knight for the middle game.

13 cxd4

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Chess: Understanding the Veresov Part II

1 d4 d5 2 Nc3 e5 3 dxe5 d4 4 Nb1 Nc6 5 Nf3 Bg4
6 Bf4 Nge7 7 Qd3 Ng6 8 Bg3 Qd5 9 Nc3 Bb4
10 O-O-O Line



What's the game plan for Black?

Sacrifice the e5 pawn in order to stifle White's
game in the center.

What's the game plan for White?



Accept the proffered pawn and consolidate e5.

1 d4



1 ... d5



1. ... Nc6

2 Nc3



2 ... e5



Black offers White the e5 pawn with hopes of
attaining a space advantage in the center.

2 ... Nf6
2 ... e6
2 ... f5
2 ... Bf5
2 ... c6
2 ... g6
2 ... Nc6
2 ... Nc6
2. ... c5

3 dxe5



And White gladly accepts it. After all, a pawn, is a pawn,
is a pawn.

3 ... d4



The beginning of Black's counterplay. He attacks the
knight and also gains space in the center.

3 ... Bb4
3 ... Nc6
3 ... Be6

4 Nb1



4 Ne4
4 Nb5

4 ... Nc6



Attacking the e5 pawn and also supporting d4.

4 ... Be6
4 ... Bf5
4 ... Bg4
4 ... Bc5

5 Nf3



Covering e5.

5 Bf4
5 e3
5 c3

5 ... Bg4



Indirectly assailing e5 by threatening to capture its
f3 defender.

5 ... Bf5
5 ... Be6

6 Bf4



Supporting e5 once again.

6 Qd3
6 h3

6 ... Nge7



6 ... Qd5
6 ... Bxf3
6 ... Qe7

7 Qd3



(i) Avoids potential contact with the g4 bishop.
(ii) Gives the Queen more breathing space. From d1,
she has access to just two squares (d2, d3) whereas
from here she has the diagonals f1-a6/b1-h7 plus the
third rank.

7 g3
7 c3
7 Nbd2
7 h3

7 ... Ng6



More pressure on e5. The f4 bishop also looks tempting.

7 ... Qd5
7 ... Qd7

8 Bg3



Avoiding 8 ... Nxf4.

8 Bd2
8 Bg5

8 ... Qd5



(i) Pressurizes e5.
(ii) Clears the queenside for castling.

8 ... Bxf3
8 ... Nb4
8 ... Qd7

9 Nc3



After a brief rest, the knight comes back to attack
the Queen.

9 e4
9 h3

9 ... Bb4



But Black pins the attacker.
Not 9. ... dxc3 because of 10. Qxd5.

9 ... Qc5
9 ... Qd7

10 O-O-O



Renewing the threat against the Queen and setting up
for an exciting middlegame.

10 Nd2

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Chess: Understanding the French Defense (Transpositionally) Part I

1 d4 Nc6 2 Nc3 d5 3 e4 e6 4 Nf3 Nf6 5 Bg5 Be7
6 Bxf6 Bxf6 7 Bb5 O-O 8 O-O Rb8 9 e5 Be7 Line



What's the game plan for White?

White pushes e2-e4 followed by e4-e5.
The idea is to enforce a central clamp.
For the future, he plans to fortify d4
(Nc3-e2 followed by c2-c3), and, if
possible, advance f2-f4-f5 in order to
undermine Black's pawn chain at its
base.

What's the game plan for Black?



Black fights for e4 and also sets himself up
for a timely ... c5 and ... f6. The idea is to
disrupt White's pawn chain.


1 d4



1 ... Nc6



1 ... d5 (A)
1. ... d5 (B)
1 ... d5 (C)
1 ... d5 (D)
1 ... d5 (E)

2 Nc3



2 e4
2 Nf3
2 c4
2 d5
2 Bg5

2 ... d5



2 ... e6
2 ... e5

3 e4



Taking a shot at d5.

3 g3
3 Nf3
3 Bf4
3 e3

3 ... e6



3 ... Nf6
3 ... dxe4
3 ... e5
3 ... a6

4 Nf3



White balances kingside and queenside mobilization.
The knight takes an interest in e5 and d4.

4 e5
4 Nge2
4 Be3
4 exd5

4 ... Nf6



Mobilization with attack. The e4 pawn is about
to be captured.

4 ... Bb4
4 ... dxe4
4 ... Nge7

5 Bg5



Pinning the knight to prevent
5 ... Nxe4/5 ... dxe4.

5 e5
5 exd5
5 Bd3

5 ... Be7



Black immediately attends to the pin
before it gets too troublesome.

5 ... Bb4
5 ... dxe4
5 ... a6

6 Bxf6



All for the love of e4. This capture gets
rid of a key contender for that square.

6 e5
6 Bd3
6 exd5

6 ... Bxf6



6 ... gxf6

7 Bb5



(i) Makes way for kingside castling.
(ii) Immobilizes the knight.

7 e5
7 Qd3
7 Qd2

7 ... O-O



Securing the King and unpinning the knight.

7 ... a6
7 ... Rb8

8 O-O



8 Qd2
8 e5
8 a3

8 ... Rb8



Black is anticipating Bxc6 followed by ... bxc6,
after which the rook gets a half open b-file.

8 ... g6
8 ... Kh8
8 ... a6
8 ... Be7
8 ... Nb8

9 e5



Enforcing a central clamp and also attacking
the bishop.

9 ... Be7



Avoiding capture and setting the stage for
the middle game.

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