French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Morozevich Line

The opening move 1.e4 is a central pawn push that aims to control the center of the board. By advancing the pawn two squares, white is able to stake a claim to the vital squares d5 and f5. This move also allows the white bishop on c1 to become active and will later be able to attack the black king-side.

The move 1... e6 is known as the French Defense and aims to control the central d5 square. By placing a pawn on e6, black restricts the development of the white pawn on e4 and prepares for a future pawn break with d5. This move also allows the black bishop on c8 to become active, either on the diagonal a6-f1 or b7-a6. Additionally, the pawn on e6 helps to protect the squares d5 and f5 from a potential intrusion by the white knight on c3.

The move 2. d4 intends to further control the center and gain space by attacking the black pawn on e6. This pawn break aims to open up lines for the white queen and bishop and to limit the mobility of the black pieces. Additionally, the move d4 prepares for the deployment of the white knight on c3 to attack the black pawn on d5. The pawn on d4 also shields the white king from potential attacks along the diagonal a1-h8.

In the French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Morozevich Line, Black typically responds to 2. d4 with the move 2... d5. This pawn break aims to challenge the white pawn on d4 and to control the central squares. By advancing this pawn, black seeks to free his/her pieces from passive positions and open up lines for the queen and bishop along the diagonals b7-g2 and d8-h4. Furthermore, this move helps to establish a solid pawn chain in the center of the board, with pawns on d5 and e6 protecting each other and limiting the mobility of the white pieces.

The move Nc3 mirrors the development made by Black, and aims to control the central squares, particularly d5. It prepares to attack the black pawn on d5, which is a central pawn for Black in this game. Moreover, Nc3 helps White in his/her development plan by freeing the path to castle kingside and to deploy the light-squared bishop to a strategic position. With this move, White lays the foundations for his/her next moves, in which he/she will continue to pressure Black in the center of the board.

In response to 3. Nc3, Black often plays the move 3... Nf6, which attacks the white pawn on e4 and gains control over the d4 square. This knight move also prepares for Black to castle kingside, build up pawn structure, and centralize pieces on more active squares. Additionally, the knight on f6 puts pressure on the white knight on c3 and can potentially force a trade that would weaken White's control over the center. In sum, this move serves multiple purposes in Black's development plan and helps to solidify his/her position on the board.

In the French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Morozevich Line, the move 4. Bg5 intends to pin the knight on f6 and create pressure against the black king, forcing it to move. This move also attacks the undefended pawn on e6, creating doubled isolated pawns for Black if the pawn is captured. Moreover, the bishop on g5 helps to control the d8-h4 diagonal, which is a crucial path for the black queen and can limit Black's counterplay. With this move, White aims to disrupt Black's development plan and gain an advantage in the center of the board.

In response to 4. Bg5, Black can reply with the move 4... dxe4, which aims to exchange the central pawn for the bishop and to open up lines for the black queen and bishop. This move can also create a weakened pawn structure for White if recapturing with the f3 pawn. By capturing on e4, Black obtains a more open position which is advantageous for his/her active pieces like the queen, bishop and knight. The captured pawn on e4 had also blocked the diagonal of the dark-squared bishop on c8, and with its removal, the bishop can be deployed to more active positions. This move can be a solid option for Black to develop his/her pieces and increase control in the center of the board.

In response to 4... dxe4, White's move 5. Nxe4 attacks the black queen and wins a pawn in the process. This move takes advantage of the fact that the black queen is undefended and unable to retreat. Additionally, Nxe4 develops the white knight to a more active square in the center of the board and potentially prepares for a future attack on the black king-side. However, this move also blocks the line of the white bishop on c1, which could hinder the development of the remainder of White's pieces if not managed correctly. With this move, White gains a material advantage but must still be careful not to fall for any traps and to remain mindful of potential counterattacks by Black.

In the French Defense: Classical Variation, Burn Variation, Morozevich Line, Black's move 5... Be7 develops the light-squared bishop and prepares to castle kingside. This move also helps to control the d8-h4 diagonal, which is an important pathway for Black's queen and opens up the possibility of creating a battery with the queen and bishop. Moreover, with the bishop on e7, Black can potentially prepare for the pawn break f6-f5, which can create counterplay and attack white pieces in the center. This move can also serve as a defensive resource by controlling the square d6, which could be a potential weakness for Black in the future. In sum, this is a solid move for Black that helps to continue with his/her development plan on the kingside.

In response to 5... Be7, White's move 6. Bxf6 recaptures the bishop and opens up the possibility of doubling Black's pawns on the f-file with a pawn capture on f6. This move also enlarges White's control over important central squares and prepares for potential development of the queen to the d3 square, increasing White's control over the board. Additionally, Bxf6 potentially weakens Black's pawn structure on the kingside, which could be exploited later to create attacking chances and undermine Black's position. This move can also facilitate the deployment of the white knight on f3, to take advantage of the weakened f6 square and exert pressure on Black's central pawns. In sum, Bxf6 is a solid move that strengthens White's grip on the center of the board while also causing some positional damage to Black's pawn structure.

In the aftermath of 6. Bxf6, a popular reply for Black is to play 6... gxf6, which captures the pawn and removes the doubled pawn structure on the f-file. This move also activates the dark-squared bishop and opens up lines for the rooks along the h8-a1 diagonal. Although Black's pawn structure is weakened on the kingside, the capture can also arouse White's misplaced pawns and promote a future attack on the weakened kingside. Additionally, this move potentially restricts the mobility of the white knight on e4, putting pressure on the white pieces in the center. In sum, gxf6 can be a solid move for Black that helps to develop active pieces and gain space on the board.