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.
Opening Name: French Defense: Burn Variation, 5.Nxe4 Nbd7
Moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7
Description: In this line of the French Defense, Black responds to White's recapture on e4 with the developing move ...Nbd7. This move supports the knight on f6 and prepares to challenge White's central control while maintaining solid piece coordination. The knight on d7 often aims to reroute to b6 or c5, putting pressure on White's center and key squares.
Characteristic of the move: The move ...Nbd7 is characteristic for its flexible and resilient defensive setup, reinforcing Black's position rather than immediately seeking tactical complications.
Attacking or Defensive: For Black, this move is more defensive, focusing on solidifying the position and preparing counterplay. For White, the position remains balanced with chances to maintain pressure on the center and develop actively.
Center Control: This opening phase involves contesting the center. White initially occupies the center with pawns and pieces, while Black aims to undermine it. The move ...Nbd7 helps Black support the central tension without conceding ground, so center control remains a key strategic theme here.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the French: Burn, 5.Nxe4 Nbd7, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 3 - Move #8 white
You can also discover how top players used French: Burn, 5.Nxe4 Nbd7 to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.