Download PGN of February ’26 French games
>> Previous Update >>
Advance with 5...Nge7 [C02]
While traditional main lines are still viable for both sides, strong players are increasingly turning to systems with an early ...Nge7 to pose different problems for White. After 3 e5 c5 4 c3 Nc6 5 Nf3, a traditionally irregular move is 5...Nge7 directly:
             |
Many strong players have taken up this move of late, but GM Matthias Bluebaum, who recently qualified for the Candidates tournament, has the most games in the databases. I show a couple of games from a few months ago. In Ambartsumian, T - Bluebaum, M, Titled Tuesday 12th Aug 2025, White chose 6 Be2, a natural but somewhat slow move. The game continued 6...Nf5 7 Na3 cxd4 8 cxd4 Bb4+ (8...Bxa3!, a move which is risky in other variations, looks fine here) 9 Kf1 0-0 10 Nc2 and White stood slightly better. After some inaccurate play, Black gained the advantage and then a winning game, but he blundered at a critical point and lost.
In Schoppen, C - Vergara Anton, D, Granada 2025, White played the popular idea 6 Na3. Now Black has various ideas such as 6...cxd4 and 6...Nf5, but in this game he chose simply 6...Bd7 7 Nc2 Qa5!:
|
|
White chose 8 Bd2 (I analyse a couple of games with 8 Bd3 Nxd4) 8...Qb6, a position in which Black has pressure on d4 and b2, although he has to be careful about when and whether to grab the b-pawn. It appears that this position is equal with accurate play on both sides.
Advance Variation with 5...Bd7 6 Be2 Nge7 [C02]
A well-established and frequently-played ...Nge7 sequence is 5...Bd7 6 Be2 Nge7, which we have analysed in many games in this column (see the Archives). This can branch out into a variety of quite independent systems, with a confusing array of setups and move orders for both sides. One important line we saw last month is 7 0-0 Nf5 8 dxc5 a5 9 Na3 Bxc5 10 Nb5!? 0-0 11 Bd3:
|
|
In Firouzja, A - Meng, Y, Wch Rapid op Doha 2025, Meng tried Cheparinov’s suggestion (mentioned in the Archives) of 11...Nh4 12 Bxh7+ (12 Bf4 is very messy but also equal in the end) 12...Kxh7 13 Ng5+ Kg6 14 Qg4 Nxe5 15 Qxh4 Bxb5. This leads to lengthy tactical infighting and ultimately an equal game. When White avoided a draw Black got a small edge, but quickly agreed to the half point.
Instead of 8...a5, 8...Bxc5 is still being played. White has three main moves which I cover in the notes to Alekseenko, K - Gavrilescu, D, Wch Blitz Doha 2025.
|
|
9 Nbd2 0-0 10 Nb3 Bb6 was played in the game, but 9 b4 Bb6 10 Bd3 has enjoyed more success. In that case I think Black should avoid the superficially thematic 10...Nh4 and play 10...0-0 11 a4 a6 12 Nbd2 f6! with good play.
Instead of 7 0-0, the move 7 Na3 is a frequent way for White to handle this line and fairly well-covered in the Archives. One plan that has been debated over the years is ...Ng6, ...Bd7, and ...f6. Black can either exchange pawns on d4 first or wait. In Ju Wenjun-Wang Chuqiao, Wch Blitz (Women) Doha 2025, she tried 7...cxd4 8 cxd4 Ng6:
|
|
White continued 9 0-0 Be7 10 Be3 0-0 11 g3!?, varying from the usual 11 Nc2, but White achieved nothing special and soon stood worse.
Delaying the exchange on d4 is more flexible. In Nazari, A - Zeng, C, Abu Dhabi 2025, Black played the immediate 7...Ng6, and after 8 h4 (8 Nc2 Be7 is an alternative of note), Black saw no reason to keep the tension and played 8...cxd4 9 cxd4 Be7 10 g3 (10 h5 Nh4 is also critical) 10...0-0 11 Nc2 f6 12 h5 Nh8:
|
|
A setup that goes back to Korchnoi; Black intends ...Nf7 and ...fxe5. White has several logical tries here, but Black’s position seems to be holding together well, and in this game he even gets a large advantage.
Advance Variation with 5...Bd7 6 Be2 f6 7 0-0 fxe5 8 dxe5 [C02]
In the ever-popular 5...Bd7 6 Be2 f6 7 0-0 fxe5 variation, the rare move 8 dxe5 has been revived recently by the likes of Caruana, Abdusattorov, Alekseenko, and Giri, all players who are outstanding theoretical experts. In part, this confirms how well 8 Nxe5 Nxe5 has been doing for Black, but also how they feel 8 dxe5 offers genuine chances.
|
|
In Alekseenko, K - Keinanen, T, EU-chT Batumi 2025, Black played Eduoard's recommendation 8...Nh6, a previously rare move that we have examined in the past. There are a lot more games now, and I’ve tried to take an in-depth look at the main lines. The play is complex and in the end, balanced.
The other main defense is 8...Qc7:
|
|
The recent Blitz game Abdusattorov, N - Ponkratov, P, Wch Blitz Doha 2025 is loaded with errors, but serves as an example of several typical tactics to avoid (stemming from 9 c4), and I’ve used it to present some analysis of the important responses 9 Re1 and 9 Bf4.
Till next month, John
>> Previous Update >>
Please post you queries on the French Forum, or subscribers can write to me at support@chesspublishing.com if you have any questions or queries.