French 3.Nc3 Be7
1.Nc3 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e4 Be7!?
The position after 3...Be7!? occurs 1,247 times in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database. Among those who have played it are Nigel Short and Fabiano Caruana, while it was a favourite of Oleg Romanishin's in the 1970s.
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| How should White respond? |
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4.e5!?
Most popular is 4.Nf3, but Stockfish17 prefers the text, while Dragon1 suggests 4.Bd3!?
4...c5 5.Qg4 Kf8!?
Dragon1 prefers 5...g6, but Stockfish17 fluctuates between the two moves.
6.Nf3 h5!?
There is only one example of this move in Mega25, but it is Stockfish17's top choice; Dragon1 prefers 6...b6.
7.Qf4 cxd4!?
The engines agree this is an improvement over the known 7...Nh6.
8.Nxd4
This is OK, but better is the engines' 8.Nb5! Nc6 9.Nbxd4.
8...g5!? 9.Qe3
The engines reckon 9.Qd2!? gives White a slight edge.
9...Nc6 10.Bd3 Nh6 11.h3 Kg7?!
The engines strongly dislike this, suggesting 11...Qc7 or 11...Nf5!?
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| How should White proceed? |
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12.Bd2
The engines reckon 12.f4 gives the upper hand, and 12.Nce2 gives at least a slight edge.
12...f5!? 13.exf6+?!
Probably better is 13.f4. After the text Black's central pawns are free to advance.
13...Bxf6 14.Nce2?
Not 14.Nxe6+?? Bxe6 15.Qxe6? Re8 etc, but better is 14.Nxc6, although after 14...bxc6 Black's central dominance provides protection for the black king. Dragon1 reckons the resulting position is completely equal, but Stockfish17 marginally prefers Black.
14...Nxd4 15.Nxd4 e5!?
Black's hanging pawns are mobile and strong.
16.Nb3 e4 17.Be2 Nf5 18.Qc5 Be6
Probably even stronger is 18...Bxb2 19.Rd1 Bf6 20.0-0 Be6.
19.Bc3?
Better is 19.c3.
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| How should Black continue? |
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19...Qc8?!
This largely lets White off the hook, whereas there is no good answer to 19...Rc8!, eg 20.Bxf6+ Qxf6 21.Qxa7 Rxc2! 22.Qxb7+ Bf7, after which Black is temporarily a pawn down, but has a very strong attack. Possibly better is 20.Qb4!?, but 20...Bxc3+ 21.bxc3 Qf6! is good for Black.
20.Bxf6+ Kxf6 21.Qxc8?!
There was no need to help Black develop the queen's rook.
21...Raxc8 22.0-0-0 Ke5 23.c3
Now 23...Rac8 leaves Black at least slightly better, according to the engines, but VD played ...
23...Bf7
... and offered a draw.
24.Nd4 Nxd4 25.Rxd4 h4!? 26.Re1 Bg6 27.f3 Rhf8 28.Bd3 Rf4
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| White has what looks like immense pressure against the hanging pawns, but it turns out there is no way to exploit this |
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29.Bc2 Rc4 30.Rxc4 dxc4 31.a4 a5
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| White to play and lose |
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32.b3?
White should 'do nothing', the position remaining completely equal
32...cxb3 33.Bxb3 Kf6!
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| There is no defence |
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34.Bd5
This (and 34.Bd1, which comes to the same thing) is best, according to the engines.
34...exf3 35.Bxf3 Rxa4 36.Bxb7?
Restoring material equality, but making the win simple. Better is keeping rooks on with 36.Kb2, but 36...b5 leaves Black up the equivalent of a minor piece, or maybe more, according to the engines.
36...Ra1+ 37.Kd2 Rxe1 38.Kxe1 Ke5
Other moves also win, including 38...a4.
39.Kf2
Or 39.Bc6 Be4.
39...a4 40.Ba6 Bf7 41.Bd3 a3 42.Bb1 Kf4 0-1
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