Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. Nf3/2...d5/3. e5/3...c5/4. b4/4...cxb4

French defence C00 French defence 4...cxb4 Black accepts White's gambit. White usually continues with the immediate 5. a3, hoping for Black to take the pawn and allowing White some open lines. However, Black doesn't have to take and can simply develop with 5...Nc6 with the idea to recapture on b4 with the dark-squared bishop. This does help White by letting them build up their centre with tempo, so after 6. axb4 Bxb4 7. c3 Be7 8. d4 White gets a space advantage in the centre in exchange for a pawn and allowing Black a passed pawn on the a-file. Black can choose to take back the a3-pawn too with 5...bxa3. White can simply continue with 6. d4 to build up the centre and delay taking the pawn for now. 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e5 c5 4. b4 cxb4 5. a3 Nc6 6. axb4 Bxb4 7. c3 Be7 8. d4 The main line after 5. a3 Nc6 White doesn't have to offer up the a3 pawn immediately, they can simply build up the centre with 5. d4. These lines are likely to transpose back into lines with 5. a3. Theory Table 0 5. a3 Nc6 6. axb4 Bxb4 7. c3 Be7 8. d4 Bd7 5. ... bxa3 6. d4 Nc6 7. c3 5. d4 Nc6 6. a3 References See also French Defence