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Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nc3/3...Nf6/4. Bg5/4...Be7

Classical variation
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7
ECO code: C14
Parent: Classical variation

4...Be7

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Because Nf6 is no longer pinned, Black threatens to win the e4-pawn.

Any attempt to defend the e4-pawn, e.g. by 5. f3?! or 5. Bd3?!, fails to actually protect the pawn because White's bishop on g5 isn't defended, so Black can simply play 5...Nxe4! and win a pawn (6. Bxe7 Nxc3 7. Bxd8 Nxd1 8. Bxc7 Nxb2 ).

That's why White either moves the e4-pawn to a safe square with 5. e5, or eliminates an attacker of e4 by playing 5. Bxf6. A safe alternative is a transposition to the Exchange Variation with 5. exd5.

Theory table

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1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7

5 6
e5
Nfd7
Bxe7
Qxe7
=
Bxf6
Bxf6
Nf3
O-O
=
exd5
exd5
=

References

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v · t · e
Chess Opening Theory
1. e4 e5
Open game
2. Nf3
With 2...Nc6:
  • Four knights ( )
  • Italian game ( )
  • Spanish game ( )

With other 2nd moves:

2. Other
1. e4 c5
Sicilian defence
1. e4 ...other: