The idea in one sentence
Black develops the light-squared bishop before closing the centre with ...e6: a French without the bad bishop, very solid.
♔ White's plans
- Chase the bishop with Ng3 and h4-h5 to gain space
- Castle long and use the space on the kingside
- Push for an advantage in a slightly better endgame
♚ Black's plans
- Get the bishop out to f5 before playing ...e6
- Keep the structure solid and trade pieces
- Counter with ...c5 or ...e5 when the time is right
Pawn structure. Black has no weaknesses; White has more space and a pawn on h5 that cramps the kingside.
How to learn it
- Read the idea and the plans: every move below serves one of them.
- In the story, ask of each move: what does it do, what does it stop, what does it prepare, why not the other one?
- Drill your side. At the key moves you name the idea first, then play the move.
- Missed moves come back first next time, and in your journal.
The defining moves
- 1...c6 prepares ...d5 without blocking the light-squared bishop, which the French ...e6 does.
- 2...d5 challenges e4.
- 3...dxe4 gives up the centre for quick development.
- 4...Bf5 develops the bishop before ...e6 closes it in, and hits the knight.
- 5.Ng3 attacks the bishop.
- 6.h4 threatens h5, trapping the bishop.
The line follows the moves masters play most (Lichess masters database), each checked by Stockfish 19 at depth 22; where the book move is not Stockfish's first choice, the story says so. Scores are in pawns from White's side: +0.30 is good for White, −0.30 for Black.