French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line

The opening move by White, 1.e4, aims to control the center, develop the king's pawn and create space for the pieces to come out. This move also prepares for castling and opens lines for the queen and bishop to develop. With 1.e4, White puts pressure on Black's position and makes it difficult to defend the d5 pawn. White may also look to push the pawn to e5, gaining more space and control over the board.

Black's move 1... e6 aims to control the d5 square, prevent White's pawn from advancing to e5, and prepare for the development of the bishop and queen. By blocking the pawn on e4, Black creates an environment that will allow them to play with a closed pawn structure, which typically results in a slower, more strategic game. Additionally, 1...e6 allows Black to support the d5 pawn should it come under attack.

White's move 2.d4 aims to strengthen their control over the central squares, challenging Black's pawn on e6 and opening up the possibility of exchanging pawns. This move also allows White to develop their pieces more effectively, as the knights can be brought out to c3 and f3 to support the central control and attack the Black pawns. Additionally, moving the pawn to d4 creates the potential for White to push to d5 later in the game, which could create a passed pawn or establish a strong pawn chain.

In the French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line, Black's move 2...d5 aims to contest White's control over the central squares, seeking to push back White's pawn on d4 with another pawn. By doing so, Black hopes to establish a strong presence in the center of the board and prepare for the development of their pieces. Playing d5 also puts pressure on White's knight on c3, forcing them to either retreat to b1 or trade with the pawn, potentially disrupting White's pawn structure or giving Black more space to work with. In sum, d5 is a key move in the French Defense that sets the stage for the coming tactical battles.

White's move 3. Nc3 aims to support their central pawn by attacking Black's pawn on d5, which can create backward pawn for Black or, more commonly, a pawn chain consisting of the pawns on c3 and d4. Developing the knight to c3 also adds support to the potential push to e5, a move that would result in a strong pawn wedge in the center, limiting Black's space and options. Additionally, the knight on c3 attacks the d5 square, which could be important later in the game when it comes to controlling the center, and it also prepares for castling by allowing the b1-knight to come into play. In sum, Nc3 is a solid developing move that puts pressure on Black's position while establishing control over the center of the board.

Black's move 3...Nf6 is a key developing move that aims to put pressure on White's central pawn on d4. By targeting the pawn with the knight, Black hopes to initiate an exchange that may create an isolated pawn on d4 for White, which could be a weakness in their position. Additionally, Nf6 allows the knight to contest control over the central squares and prepare for the coming tactical battles. The move also prepares for the future development of the bishop, which can be placed on e7 to add support to the central pawns, or on g7 to help control the light squares and pressure the white pawn on e4. In sum, Nf6 is a flexible move that adds to the dynamic potential of the French Defense.

In the French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line, White's move 4.Bg5 is a developing move that targets Black's knight on f6, forcing it to move again or to be exchanged. By moving the bishop to g5, White puts pressure on Black's position, which can disrupt Black's plans of developing their pieces, and also pins the knight, potentially leading to tactics based on the pin. Additionally, the bishop on g5 is well-placed to pressure Black's central pawns and support the push to e5. In sum, Bg5 is a common and useful move in the French Defense that often leads to a dynamic and interesting game.

Black's move 4...dxe4 aims to resolve the tension in the center of the board by exchanging pawns. By taking the pawn with the pawn, Black opens up their bishop on c8 and creates more space to develop their pieces. The move can also be seen as a proactive move that reduces the risk of the bishop being pinned later in the game. Alternatively, if White doesn't take the pawn, Black can keep the option of exchanging it later while keeping pressure on White's pieces. In sum, dxe4 is a flexible and strategic move that can lead to a variety of further developments.

White's move 5.Nxe4 aims to exchange the knights and win the pawn on e4. By doing so, White hopes to gain a material advantage and open up lines for their pieces. The move also puts pressure on Black's bishop on f6, which may be forced to move again or be exchanged. Additionally, by exchanging knights, White can avoid the potential of being pinned by Black's bishop on e7. If Black doesn't exchange knights, White can follow up with moves such as c3 or f3 to support the knight on e4 and continue to build up the position. In sum, Nxe4 is a natural and effective move that puts pressure on Black and gains a material advantage.

In the French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line, Black's move 5...Be7 develops the bishop, adds support to the pawn on d5, and puts pressure on White's centralized knight on e4. Black's bishop on e7 often plays an important role in controlling the light squares and influencing the position of White's pawns. The bishop can be moved to f6 later as well, supporting the central pawns. Furthermore, by developing the bishop to e7, Black prepares to castle kingside and connects the rooks, which often improves the coordination of pieces. In sum, 5...Be7 is a solid move that contributes to Black's positioning and flexibility.

White's move 6.Bxf6 aims to exchange the bishop for the knight and double Black's pawns on the f-file. By doing so, White hopes to create a potential weakness in Black's position that can be exploited later in the game. Additionally, Bxf6 opens up lines for White's rooks and queen to potentially target Black's weakened pawn structure. The move also follows the principle of developing pieces, as the bishop on g5 has already played a role in pressuring Black's position. By exchanging on f6, White may also prepare to castle kingside and create a safer position for their king. In sum, Bxf6 is a natural and useful move that helps White gain positional advantage and open up the position.

Black's move 6...Bxf6 aims to exchange the bishop for the knight and recapture with the pawn, without creating doubled pawns. By doing so, Black avoids giving White a potential target on the f-file, and develops the bishop on f6, further controlling the center of the board. Additionally, exchanging the bishop may alleviate potential pressure on the position, as the bishop on g5 can sometimes be used to pin Black's pieces or create tactical threats. The move also prepares for castling kingside, connecting the rooks, and allowing for the king to be more secure. In sum, Bxf6 is a reasonable and flexible move that contributes to Black's development and helps to simplify the position.

In the French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Main Line, White's move 7.Nf3 aims to develop the knight and control the central squares. By placing the knight on the f3 square, White is able to put additional pressure on Black's pawn on d5, forcing them to dedicate more resources to its defense. The move also prepares for the potential push to e5, which can create a strong wedge in the center and limit Black's mobility. Additionally, the knight on f3 helps to inhibit Black's development, as it restricts the movement of the pawn on e6. In sum, Nf3 is a solid developing move that helps to control the board and prepares for further strategic options.

Black's move 7...O-O aims to castle the king and connect the rooks, placing the king in a safer position and adding support to the central pawns. By castling kingside, Black also prepares to bring the rook on f8 into play by moving it to e8 or opening up the f-file. Additionally, castling kingside can limit the potential of White's attacks on the open g-file. The move also prepares for doubling the rooks on the e-file, and it frequently indicates that Black is prepared to begin more active play in the center of the board. In sum, O-O is a proactive and natural move that helps to strengthen Black's position and prepare for further strategic developments.