Tuesday, January 4, 2011

    French, Advance variation with 5...Nge7

    Submitted by FM mizant on Chess.com
    I call it "Maxa system" because my first coach, IM Branimir Maksimović (whose nickname is "Maxa"), was - and probably still is - well-known "french", who always played this 5...Nge7 line. I accepted the same concept of repertoire, so french and Nge7, following the advance variation, was my choice then, when I was nine years old, and still is. Let's see how it goes:
    5...Nge7 is not the main line. It's not even the second option, according to CB11. More played moves are 5...Bd7, and the main line: 5...Qb6. But 5...Nge7 seems more logical then any other line after 5.Nf3: black is developing another piece, with an idea to establish more pressure on the most vulnerable of white's - pawn d4, via Ne7-f5. Of course, c5 pawn is indirectly protected (after 6. d:c5 Ng6, and one of two pawns - e5 or c5 - is going down).
    White has few good options here:
    • 6. Be2?! 
    • 6. Bd3
    • 6. Na3
    • 6. a3
    Let's see the first one (and less played): 6. Be2
    French: Advance variation with 5...Nge7 | 21 Dec 2010 | ECO: C02
    An ordinary, developing move, but without sense for threat of black's knight on e7.
    So white was in trouble to defend his d4-pawn, and it's the main reason why white often choose other options, rather then 6. Be2. Let's see what is going on with 6. Bd3.
    French: Advance variation with 5...Nge7 | 21 Dec 2010 | ECO: C02
    Bishop goes to the best diagonal, but in the same moment, that piece is blocking white's queen on defending d4 pawn (which is the most vulnerable). That's why good bishop is about to be traded for knight on f5. The question is: who will get more from that trade?
    It seems that trading glorious light-square bishop for knight on f5 is not very well for white, so let's see what is happening when white decide first to defend d4-pawn, and then to form an attack concept. There are two possibilities of that kind: 6. Na3 and 6. a3. First is played in order to defend d4 with knight on c2 (after Na3-c2), and the other one is usually followed by b4, and then bishop goes to b2. First we will check 6. Na3.
    French: Advance variation with 5...Nge7 | 21 Dec 2010 | ECO: C02
    White wants to secure d4 pawn with knight on c2, which is also mobile in transporting to attack on the king side by square e3, if it's neccesary. Bad side of this manouvre is that white is making many moves on defending himself, so black often succeed in making diferent kind of initiative on the queen side.
    At the end, probably the strongest line for white (also most played, according to CB11): 6. a3
    French: Advance variation with 5...Nge7 | 22 Dec 2010 | ECO: C02
    White's idea is to support his d4 pawn by b4 and Bb2, and also to grab some space on the queen side by his b-pawn, which in some occasions can stop black in developing an initiative on the same side. On the other hand, white is going to try to focus on the king side, exploiting given space by e5 pawn.
    This short introduction in a specific line of Advance variation in French defence is aimed to help those who are at intermediate level of understanding chess. I do not recommend closed openings - such French defence is - to beginners, and especially do not recommend it for young players. They should play open positions, with many opportunities for tactical sacrifices.
    For those beginners who would like to be familiarised with basics of French defence, I will make another article soon.
    » posted in mizant's Blog
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