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
By ChessCoach@care2.com
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
By ChessCoach@care2.com
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