White’s White’s options options include include defendi defending ng the e4 pawn with 3.Nc3 or 3.Nd2, exchanging with 3.exd5, or advancing the pawn with 3.e5, each of which lead to different types of positi position ons. White White makes a claim to the centre, while Black immediately challenges the pawn on e4. Position after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 Following the opening moves 1.e4 e6, the game usually continues 2.d4 d5 (see below for for alternativ alternatives). Black has three minor pieces for the queen, which gives him a slight materia teriall super superio iori rity, ty, but his king king is vulne vulnerab rable le and White White has good attacking chances. A typi typica call way way for Wh Whit itee to continue his attack is 9.cxd4 10.Bxh7+ Kxh7 11.Ng5+ when Black must give up his queen to avoid avoid being mated, continuing with 11.Qxg5 12.fxg5 12.fxg5 dxc3. White’s White’s light-squ light-square are bishop bishop eyes the weak h7pawn, pawn, which which is usual usually ly def defende ended d by a knight knight on f6 but here here it has has been been push pushed ed away away by e5. Another example is the following line of the Classical French: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.f4 0-0 8.Nf3 c5 9.Bd3 (see diagram). White tries to do this in the Alekhine the Alekhine–Chatard –Chatard attack, for example. White usually tries to exploit his extra space on the kingside, where he will often play for a mating attack. Black Black often often gains counteratcounterat- After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 tacking possibilities on the queenside the queenside while while White tends 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.f4 0-0 8.Nf3 c5 9.Bd3 to concentrate on the kingside the kingside. The French has a reputation for solidity and solidity and resilience, though it can result in a somewhat cramped game for Black Black in the early early stages. On the other hand, if White plays dxe5, then the a7–g1 diagonal is opened, making it less desirable for White to castle to castle kingside. Rxf3 to destroy destroy the white centre and attack attack the king.
Then, Then, as White usually has a knight on f3 guarding his pawns on d4 and e5, Black may sacrifice may sacrifice the exchange with exchange with. Then Black Black gains an open f-file for for his rook. French Defence The French Defence is a chess a chess opening characterised opening characterised by the moves: