Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nc3/3...Bb4/4. e5/4...c5/5. a3/5...Bxc3/6. bxc3/6...Ne7/7. Qg4/7...O-O

French defence, Warsaw variation Winawer variation C18 7...O-O · Warsaw variation Although castling to the side where White wants to attack seems to be dangerous for Black, there are no immediate mating threats - at least as long as White's queen is attacking Black's kingside on her own and without support from other pieces. That's why White usually decides to develop some additional pieces which may help with White's kingside attack. Typically this is done by playing /8. Nf3/ or /8. Bd3/, on rare occasions /8. h4/ has also been tried. Note that /8. Bh6/ is harmless for Black, who can defend against 9. Qxg7# by playing 8...Nf5 or 8...Ng6, in both cases White's dark-squared bishop must retreat and White wasted a tempo. Theory table 8. Nf3 Nbc6 8. Bd3 Nf5 8. ... f5 8. h4 f5 References French Defence