French: Chatard-Alekhine, Breyer, 7.Bxe7
French Defense: Chatard-Alekhine Attack
Definition
The Chatard-Alekhine Attack (also called the Albin-Chatard Attack) is an aggressive line for White in the Classical French Defense arising after
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4
The key move 6.h4 signals White’s intention to launch a direct pawn storm against Black’s kingside, often preventing Black from castling comfortably.
Typical Move Order
One of the most illustrative sequences is:
This line shows the twin themes of (a) provoking …h6 so that the g-pawn becomes a hook for Qg4 and (b) creating open lines when Black advances …f6 or …f5 to drive the e5-pawn.
Strategic Ideas
- Pawn Storm: h4–h5 forces weaknesses around g6 and h7, even if Black delays castling.
- Piece Activity: White’s queen often comes to g4, the rook to h3 or g3, and the knight to f3–g5, building up on the dark squares.
- Black’s Counterplay: The recommended antidote is 6…h6 (Alekhine’s preference) or 6…c5, challenging White’s center before the attack is fully mobilized.
Historical Background
The idea 6.h4 was first tried by Jean-Marie Chatard (France, 1890s) and refined by Alexander Alekhine, who scored several sparkling wins with it in the 1910s and early 1920s. Alekhine’s name became attached to the line after his crushing victory over the U.S. champion Frank Marshall in Paris 1920.
Illustrative Game
Alekhine – Marshall, Paris 1920
After 6.h4 h6 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 8.Qg4 O-O?! 9.0-0-0 c5 10.f4 cxd4 11.Nb5 Nc6 12.Nf3 White’s attack soon broke through on the kingside, culminating in a queen sacrifice and mating net — a classic textbook example still shown in many tactics manuals.
Interesting Facts
- The attack was once considered nearly refuted until computer engines revived lines with early “throw-the-h-pawn” ideas.
- Grandmasters Hikaru Nakamura and Wei Yi have both used 6.h4 successfully in rapid events, showing that the variation still has surprise value.
Breyer Variation (Ruy López)
Definition
The Breyer is a modern, highly respected defense for Black in the Closed Ruy López, characterized by the retreat of the knight from c6 to b8:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Nb8
Strategic Ideas
- Flexibility: By vacating c6, Black frees the c-pawn for …c5 and supports …d5 in one stroke.
- Re-routing Pieces: The knight heads for d7–f8–g6 or c5; meanwhile, the dark-square bishop may emerge via b7 after …Bb7 and …c5.
- Maneuvering Battle: Both sides spend many moves improving pieces before a central break. White generally aims for d4-d5 or a kingside attack with Nf1–g3–f5.
Historical Background
Hungarian master Gyula Breyer (1893-1921) introduced the plan of “retreat to advance”. Although initially treated with skepticism, the idea was championed by Smyslov and Spassky and became a mainstay after Fischer–Spassky 1972 and multiple Karpov–Kasparov matches (1984-1990). Today it is one of the main defenses at elite level.
Illustrative Game
Karpov – Kasparov, World Championship 1985, Game 16
Karpov steered into the Breyer hoping for a small plus, but Kasparov’s dynamic …d5 break equalized. The game is a classic reference for Black’s freeing plan …c5, …Bb7, and timely …d5.
Interesting Facts
- Breyer’s bold prediction: he wrote that after 1.e4 e5 “White’s game is in the last throes.” The Breyer knight retreat embodies his contrarian spirit.
- Magnus Carlsen employed the Breyer in both classical and rapid World Championship playoff games versus Sergey Karjakin (2016), scoring crucial draws under pressure.
- The move 9…Nb8 confounds many beginners who are taught “Knights on the rim are dim”; in the Breyer, the rim is merely a pit-stop on the way to excellent squares.
7.Bxe7 in the Closed Catalan
Definition
The shorthand “7.Bxe7” refers to a well-known branch of the Closed Catalan in which White exchanges the dark-squared bishop on move seven:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Bxe7 Qxe7
Why It Matters
- Simplification: Exchanging bishops reduces Black’s defensive resources around the king and can steer the game toward a more strategic, less tactical struggle — often welcomed by players who like grinding endgames (e.g., Kramnik, Carlsen).
- Control of e-file: After 7…Qxe7, the e-file becomes half-open for both sides; White can later play Nc3, Qc2, and e2-e4 to build central pressure.
- Minor-piece Imbalance: White keeps the strong g2-bishop while Black must live with a slightly passive c8-bishop until …b6 or …c5 frees it.
Main Plans
For White: Expand with Qc2, Nc3, Nbd2, and sometimes Ne5; or aim for the minority attack b2-b4-b5 on the queenside.
For Black: Seek counterplay via …c5 or …dxc4 followed by …b5; alternatively mobilize the pieces with …Rd8, …Nbd7, …c6, and a timely …dxc4.
Illustrative Game
Carlsen – Anand, World Championship 2014, Game 3
Carlsen used the 7.Bxe7 line to adopt a risk-free position; although Anand held the draw, the champion demonstrated typical Catalan pressure, pressuring the c-file and queenside weaknesses for 40+ moves.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The line is sometimes nicknamed the “safety-first” Catalan; former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik used it repeatedly in his 2006 title match against Topalov to neutralize Black’s preparation.
- Because theory is relatively light, 7.Bxe7 is popular in correspondence and engine-assisted play, where forcing lines often run dry.
- A quirky sideline for Black is 7…Qb4+!? 8.Qd2 Qxc4, grabbing a pawn at the cost of development. This gambit has scored poorly in practice but remains a surprise weapon in blitz.