French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line

The French Defense is a popular opening chess strategy used by Black. The Winawer Variation is a line in this strategy that begins with 1.e4 e6 2.d4d5 3.Nc3 Bb4. White's response with 4.e5 aims to control the center of the board and limit Black's mobility. This move creates space for the Queen's Bishop and prepares to push e6 to block its diagonal. White's move solidifies its position on the board and puts pressure on Black's pawn structure.

Black plays e6 after the move 1.e4 as a response to control the center of the board and prepare to develop their pieces. This move aims to block the opponent's pawn from advancing and limit White's play. Black's e6 is an integral part of the French Defense opening scheme, which is about creating a solid defense and counterattacking the center of the board. This move allows Black's dark-squared Bishop to "breathe" again, move to b7 or d7, and help promote a counterattack.

White's move d4 after the opening e4 e6 aims at controlling the center of the board and gaining space. By advancing their pawn, White challenges Black's defense and prepares to put pressure on Black by occupying more area. The d4 move unleashes White's Queen's Bishop and enables it to join the game. This move threatens to create pawn doubles for Black, forcing them to take action and plan their pawn structure efficiently. By playing d4, White keeps the initiative in the game and challenges Black to react to a solid move.

In the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line, Black's move d5 after the opening 1.e4 e6 2.d4 aims to challenge White's central pawn on d4 and control the center of the board. This move is typical in the French Defense strategy, as Black sacrifices a pawn in exchange for stability and counterplay. By capturing White's pawn, Black frees up their pieces and creates opportunities to counterattack. This move is also key to mobilizing Black's Queen's Bishop, which can later enter the game via c5 or b4. In sum, Black's d5 aims to force White to make a decision and sets the stage for a tactical battle in the center of the board.

White's move Nc3 after the opening 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 aims to control the center and fight for tempo. This move frees up White's Queen's pawn and removes the Knight's interference with its movement. White's Knight also threatens to capture Black's pawn on d5, forcing Black to react and rearrange their pawn structure. This move also prepares White's Kingside castling and can activate the piece on d2 to develop the pieces. In sum, White's Nc3 is an essential move to support the center and create opportunities to launch a counter-attack.

Black's move Bb4 after the opening 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 aims to attack White's Knight and get a foothold in the center of the board. This move looks to exchange the active Knight and discourage White from advancing their pawn to e5. The Bishop also puts pressure on White's Kingside castle and threatens to capture the Knight if it moves to c6. If White captures the Bishop with a2-a3, Black can retreat the Bishop to a5 or d7, supporting the pawn on d5 and developing the dark-squared Bishop. In sum, Black's Bb4 aims to disrupt White's development and create a dynamic game that favors Black's play.

In the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line, White's move e5 after the opening 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 aims to create a pawn wedge and control the center of the board. This move aims to gain space and limit Black's pieces' mobility, particularly the Knight on c6. It also threatens to attack the Bishop on b4 if it moves away from the pin. By advancing the pawn, White opens up the diagonal for their King's Bishop and creates an avenue to attack Black's King position. In sum, White's e5 aims to assert dominance in the center, restrict Black's play, and prepare for an attack.

Black's move c5 after the opening 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 aims to build a pawn center and challenge White's hold on the center of the board. This move puts pressure on White's pawn on d4 and aims to create a potential passed pawn. By advancing the pawn, Black also frees up their Queenside pieces for development, and the c-file can be opened for the Rook if needed. The move c5 also creates pressure on White's Kingside castle, forcing White to react and reshift their pieces' positioning. In sum, Black's c5 aims to create a dynamic game and challenge White's hold on the center of the board.

White's move a3 after the opening 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 aims to chase the Bishop away from the active square on b4. This move serves to disrupt Black's coordination and aim to relieve the pressure on White's pawn structure. White's a3 also prepares for the upcoming move b4, which can gain space and maintain control in the center. Additionally, a3 secures the square b4 and stops Black's counterattack with a Knight. In sum, White's a3 aims to counteract Black's pawn advance on c5 and exert control on the Queenside of the board.

In the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line, Black's move Ba5 after the opening 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 aims to gain tempo and put pressure on White's pawn on c3. By attacking the Knight, Black aims to force it to retreat and create weaknesses on the Queenside. Additionally, Ba5 prepares Black's pawn to capture on b4 if White moves the pawn a3. This move also aims to activate the Bishop and connect the Rooks for tactical opportunities. Finally, the Bishop on a5 makes it harder for White to develop their pieces and places pressure on the pawn structure. In sum, Black's Ba5 aims to enhance their position and maintain pressure on White's side of the board while creating opportunities for counterattack.

White's move b4 after the opening 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5 aims to gain space on the Queenside and create a pawn structure that threatens to capture Black's Bishop. By advancing the pawn, White restricts the dark-squared Bishop's moves and opens a pathway for their a1-Rook to enter the game. White's b4 also aims to make Ba5 an awkward bishop that will need to move away from the attack of the pawn. Additionally, this move prepares for the expansion of White's pawns on the Queenside and challenges Black to defend against an attack. In sum, White's b4 aims to create a dynamic game and look for opportunities for strategic expansion while putting pressure on the opponent's pieces.

Black's move cxd4 after the opening 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5 6.b4 aims to strike back in the center and gain control over the pawn structure. This move also aims to take advantage of the exposed position of White's pawn on b4 and put the pressure on White to react. If White captures the pawn on d4 with their Knight, Black can advance their pawn on c5 and attack the Knight, which then forces an additional move by the Knight to either b3 or d3. Alternatively, if White takes back on d4 with their pawn instead, it creates pawn weaknesses in their structure and limits the Knight's mobility. In sum, Black's cxd4 move aims to activate their pieces and exploit White's vulnerabilities in the center of the board.