Main line
The chapter's main line, with the comments from the course.
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3
Natural development, defending our e4 pawn.
3... Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7
The main move at top level.
5. f4 c5
Here's our typical French counterplay, smashing into White's pawn chain.
6. Nf3
White's sharpest try, keeping d4 defended and ready to recapture with the knight.
6... Nc6
We develop and crank up the pressure. Double capture on d4 followed by Bc5 would be a disaster for White.
7. Be3
White's only move for an edge. The bishop holds d4 and blocks our doubling plan.
7... cxd4
Let's grab the pawn and clean up the center. This is our best chance for equal play.
8. Nxd4 Qb6
The Steinitz Variation brings the queen out early, but we've got tactical reasons. Time to hunt some pawns and White can't really punish it.
9. Qd2 Qxb2 10. Rb1
White's only real attempt to keep things going. Any other move and Bb4 pins the knight and basically wins.
10... Qa3
Perfect. Main goal now is keeping White's pieces off b5, so we'll slip in a6 when we can.
11. Bb5
White's most practical try, improving the bishop and heating up our knight.
11... Nxd4
We have to trade now. If we wait, Nxc6 followed by Bxc6 will crush us.
12. Bxd4 a6
Perfect timing! We control b5 before White can exploit it. Our development is a bit slow but the tactics work for us.
13. Bxd7+ Bxd7 14. Rb3
White's most aggressive line and the only way to avoid a draw. Things are about to get sharp.
14... Qe7 15. Rxb7 Rc8 16. O-O Qd8
The most critical moment of the entire line! Our defensive tools: swap bishops with Bc5, use c4 for our heavy pieces, and be super careful about f5 advances.
17. f5 exf5
No choice - we grab the pawn right now. Unlike other spots where f5 can wait, this position demands an instant response.
Key lines
The free lines of this chapter, each one trainable move by move.
- Main Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qb6 9. Qd2 Qxb2 10. Rb1 Qa3 11. Bb5 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 a6 13. Bxd7+ Bxd7 14. Rb3 Qe7 15. Rxb7 Rc8 16. O-O Qd8 17. f5 exf5
- 4. Bg5
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Bd3 c5 7. dxc5 Be7 8. Nd6+ Kf8
- 4. Bg5
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 h6 7. Nxf6+ Nxf6 8. Bh4 c5 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. O-O cxd4 13. Nxd4
- 4. Bg5
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Nxf6+ Bxf6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Bd3 c5 11. c3 cxd4 12. Nxd4 O-O 13. O-O Nc5 14. Bc2 e5
- 4. Bg5
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bxf6 Nxf6 8. Bd3 Nxe4 9. Bxe4 c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. Nxd4 Be7
- 4. Bd3
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bd3 c5 5. exd5 cxd4 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Qxd7 8. Qxd4 Nc6
- 5. Nf3
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Nf3 c5 6. dxc5 Nc6 7. Bf4 Bxc5 8. Bd3 a6 9. O-O h6 10. a3 g5
- 5. Nce2
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Nce2 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Nf3 Be7 8. g3 b5 9. Bg2 b4 10. O-O Ba6
- 9. Na4
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qb6 9. Na4 Qa5+ 10. c3 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. b4 Qxa4
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