Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. Nf3/2...d5

French defence C00 French defence 2...d5 Black continues playing in the spirit of the French defence. White has a handful of options in this position, some better than others. /3. Nc3/ enters the Two Knights variation where White continues developing pieces instead of pawns. Black has two responses: either kick White's knights around and grab a space advantage with 3...d4, or let White take over the centre after 3...Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 in order to undermine it in a similar fashion to the advance variation. /3. d4/ is the Perseus gambit. White gambits the e4-pawn and hopes to get compensation by putting their knight on e5 from where it can't yet be kicked by pawns (3...dxe4 4. Ne5 f6?? would lose to 5. Qh5+!). /3. e5/ plays in a fashion similar to the advance variation, and may even transpose after 3...c5 4. d4, entering the Nimzowitsch system. However, White can deviate by playing 4. b4, the Wing gambit, instead. Theory Table Two-knights variation 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 3. ... d5 4. Ne2 c5 Perseus gambit 3. d4 dxe4 4. Ne5 Wing gambit 3. e5 c5 4. b4 Nimzowitsch system 3. ... ... 4. d4 References See also French Defence