411 REFERENCE · Wikibooks
Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...d5/3. exd5/3...exd5/4. c4/4...Nf6
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Monte Carlo Variation rd nd bd qd kd bd rd pd pd pd pd pd pd nd pd pl pl pl pl pl pl pl rl nl bl ql kl bl nl rl
Monte Carlo Variation
With Nf6, black defends the pawn with the knight, refusing to capture on c4 (Which after Bxc4 would recapture and develop the bishop at the same time). This position is similar to the Marshall Defense when it comes to the Queen's Gambit, but unlike the Queen's Gambit, there's are no pawns on the e-file.
The most common move for white in this position is Nc3, developing a knight and adding pressure on the pawn on d4. Nf3 tries to accelerate short castling instead.
Theory table
.
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.c4 Nf6
5
6
Nc3Be7
=
Nf3Bb4+
Nc3Nc6
=
References
French Defence