Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nc3/3...dxe4/4. Nxe4

White recaptures the pawn. This position can arise from both the Tarrasch variation and the Paulsen variation of the French defence: Black chooses this approach to avoid learning separate lines for 3. Nc3 and 3. Nd2.

Black now chooses from several development moves.

4...Nf6 is most common in amateur games, which invites 5. Nxf6, then either 5...Qxf6 (solid but uneventful) or 5...gxf6 (similar to the aggressive Bronstein-Larsen variation of the Caro-Kann).

An improvement is 4...Nd2 first, the Blackburne defence. The idea is to recapture on f6 with another knight instead (5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Nxf6 Nxf6). This is the most common move in higher level chess. 4...Be7 has the same idea, planning to recapture with the bishop. After developing some of their minor pieces, Black then tries for the c5 pawn break.

4...Bd7 intending to solve the problem of the passive French bishop by routing it to 5...Bc6, is the Fort Knox variation.

An eccentric sideline is 4...Qd5?!, the Maric variation where Black centralises the queen. White may play 5. Bd3 to defend their knight, or 5. Nc3 to defend their knight while kicking the queen.

Black answers 5. Nc3 with Bb4, pinning the knight and transposing into something like a Winawer.

5. Bd3 defends the knight while developing a piece. Though it appears to undefend the d4 pawn, it is safe while White still has the answer ...Qxd4?? Bb5+! with a discovered attack on Black's queen. Black can try 5...f5 to kick the knight. Here, 6. Nc3? is answered by 6...Qxg2; while 6. c4?, attacking the queen, prevents Bb5+ and so drops the d4 pawn. 6. Ng3 is White's only move. Another line is 5...Nf6, compelling the trade 6. Nxf6 gxf6 where Black hopes to capitalise on the half-open g-file with their rook.

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Wikipedia has related information at French Defence