This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
French Defense: Burn Variation
The Burn Variation arises after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5. In this line, White develops the dark-squared bishop to g5, pinning Black’s knight on f6 and increasing pressure on Black’s central control.
Characteristic of the move 4. Bg5: This move aims to exert indirect pressure on Black’s center by targeting the knight that supports the d5 pawn. The pin can create tactical opportunities and provoke weaknesses in Black’s position.
Attacking or Defensive: For White, this is an attacking move that seeks to challenge Black’s setup actively. For Black, the position requires careful defensive responses to maintain central tension and counter White’s pressure.
Center Control: This variation is very much about contesting the center. White’s Bg5 supports a strategic fight over the d5 square, indirectly influencing the central pawn structure and piece placement.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the French Defense: Burn Variation, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 30 - Move #6 white
You can also discover how top players used French Defense: Burn Variation to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.