French Defense Main Line, Alekhine Chatard Gambit

French Defense Main Line

Definition

The French Defense Main Line refers to the most heavily studied and frequently encountered branch of the French Defense, beginning with 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 (or 3. Nd2) Nf6. The position that arises forms the theoretical backbone of the opening, shaping many of the strategic themes that define the French: the tension in the center, the locked pawn chain after e4–e5, and the battle over the important d4/e5 and d5/e4 squares.

Typical Move-Order

The term “Main Line” is most often associated with the Classical Variation:

• 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7
• From here, a host of sub-variations (Winawer, Burn, MacCutcheon deviations, the Chatard–Alekhine Attack) emerge, but the strategic DNA of the French remains intact.

Strategic Significance

In the Main Line:

• White gains space with e4–e5 and often strives for a kingside attack supported by f2–f4 and sometimes g-pawn storms.
• Black counters by undermining White’s center with …c5, pressuring the base of the pawn chain (d4) and playing for activity on the queenside.
• The bad “French bishop” (c8-bishop) is a recurring theme; Black must coordinate piece play to liberate it via …b6, …Ba6 or timely breaks.

Historic & Modern Usage

The Main Line has been contested at the highest levels for over a century—used by champions from Akiba Rubinstein and Mikhail Botvinnik to more recent exponents such as Evgeny Bareev and Maksim Chigaev. Its reliability makes it a core weapon for Black players seeking a solid yet dynamic response to 1. e4.

Illustrative Example

The classic game Gligorić – Botvinnik, Groningen 1946 demonstrates key Main-Line ideas. Botvinnik’s timely …c5 break and queenside counterplay overcame White’s space advantage.

Interesting Facts

• Even engines still debate critical Main-Line positions after 30+ plies, underscoring their strategic richness.
• Many French specialists choose their entire tournament repertoire around a single move in this line—e.g., whether to answer 6. h4 with …c5 or …Bxg5.

Alekhine (Alekhine’s Defense)

Definition

Alekhine’s Defense is the hyper-modern reply 1. e4 Nf6, named after the fourth World Champion, Alexander Alekhine. Black tempts White to advance the central pawns, hoping to counter-attack the over-extended center later.

Typical Plans

1. White often builds a large pawn center with 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4.
2. Black responds with timely strikes …d6 and …c5, pressuring the base of White’s pawn chain.

Usage & Popularity

Though less common than the Sicilian or French, Alekhine’s Defense enjoys periodic revivals. Grandmasters such as Vladimir Bagirov, Vassily Ivanchuk, and Fabiano Caruana have employed it as a surprise weapon.

Historical Anecdote

Alekhine introduced his defense in the 1921 Budapest tournament, defeating Endre Steiner in 23 moves. Remarkably, he used the opening only a handful of times, yet his name remains forever attached to it.

Example Miniature

Chatard (Chatard Attack / Chatard–Alekhine Attack)

Definition

The Chatard Attack—often called the Chatard–Alekhine Attack— is a sharp pawn-storming idea in the French Defense Classical Variation that begins with 6. h4!? after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7.

Strategic Idea

White sacrifices a kingside pawn to rip open lines toward Black’s king.

• If Black accepts with 6…Bxg5 7. hxg5 Qxg5, White gains tempi for Qg4!, castle long, and throw everything at the black monarch.
• If Black declines, White may push h4–h5 or switch to positional play with f2–f4 enhancing the space advantage.

Historical Context

French master Jean-Joseph Chatard analyzed the idea in the 1890s; Alexander Alekhine adopted it in the 1920s, lending his name to the combined “Chatard–Alekhine” label. It became a feared weapon in pre-war years because French‐defense practitioners were unprepared for the sacrificial fury.

Model Game

Spielmann – Tarrasch, Carlsbad 1929 is a famous example where the h-pawn advance overwhelmed Black.

Trivia

• Modern engines show the sacrifice is objectively risky, yet it remains popular at club level because of its direct attacking chances.
• Grandmaster Simon Williams (“the Ginger GM”) calls 6. h4 “the caveman approach against the French.”

Albin Chatard Gambit (Albin–Chatard Gambit)

Definition

The Albin Chatard Gambit is a more extreme off-shoot of the Chatard Attack where White follows up 6. h4 with the immediate 7. Qg4!?, offering the g-pawn for rapid development and a direct assault on g7. A common move-order: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4 c5 7. Qg4.

Origin of the Name

It combines the analysis of Romanian master Adolf Albin (famous for the Albin Counter-Gambit in the Queen’s Gambit) with the earlier ideas of Jean-Joseph Chatard.

Key Tactical Motifs

• Pressure on g7 forces Black to decide between …Kf8, …g6, or sacrificing the pawn with …Bf8—each with its own drawbacks.
• After 7…cxd4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Qg7 Rf8 10. Nb5, White’s pieces flood the board while Black’s king remains stuck in the center.

Illustrative Continuation

[[Pgn|e4|e6|d4|d5|Nc3|Nf6|Bg5|Be7|e5|Nfd7|h4|c5|Qg4|cxd4|Bxe7|Qxe7|Qg7|Rf8|Nb5|...]

Success Rate & Modern Evaluation

Over-the-board databases show an impressive sub-2000 rating score for White (55-60%). However, at master level engines recommend precise defensive lines—often starting with 7…g6—yielding Black full equality with accurate play.

Fun Facts

• World Champion Magnus Carlsen experimented with the gambit in an online blitz arena in 2020, beating several grandmasters.
• Because the line is so forcing, some French specialists memorize engine-approved sequences up to move 20 just to survive the opening.