Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...d5/3. e5/3...Bd7

Extended bishop swap C02 French defence Advanced variation 3...Bd7 · Extended bishop swap In the French defence, Black's pawn chain makes it hard to develop the queen's bishop actively. With ...Bd7, Black intends to resolve this liability by trading off their "bad" bishop for White's good one. After 4. Nf3 a6, Black prepares to play ...Bb5 and trade bishops, e.g. 5. Bd3 Bb5 6. O-O Bxd3 7. Qxd3. A critical line is 5. c4!, so that 5...dxc4 6. Bxc4 Bb5 White can retreat the bishop to b3 and drive Black's bishop back with a4. 7. Bb3 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Ne7 9. a4 and Black's choices are ...Bc6, obstructing the ...c5 pawn break, or ...Bd7, where it is very inactive. Alternatively, 4...c5 5. c3 Qb6 transposes into the Wade variation. Theory table 0 4. Nf3 a6 5. Bd3 Bb5 6. O-O Bxd3 7. Qxd3 Extended bishop swap + 4. ... ... 5. c4 dxc4 6. Bxc4 Bb5 7. Bb3 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 Ne7 9. a4 + 4. ... c5 5. c3 Qb6 Wade variation(by transposition) References See also French Defense