French: 3.Nc3 Be7 - French Defense sidestep
French Defense: 3.Nc3 Be7
Definition
The line 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3.Nc3 Be7 is a seldom-played branch of the French Defense. After White develops the queen’s knight to c3, Black sidesteps the main lines (3…Nf6 – Classical, 3…Bb4 – Winawer, 3…dxe4 – Rubinstein) and instead quietly retreats the king’s bishop to e7. The move is completely sound, keeps the structure flexible, and leads to middlegames that resemble a hybrid of Classical and Rubinstein ideas with reduced early tension.
How the Move Is Used
- Avoiding Theory / Surprise Value – By omitting …Bb4 or …Nf6, Black pulls White out of the deepest theoretical channels. Many French specialists prepare intensely against Winawer and Classical systems; 3…Be7 often catches them on their own.
- Flexible Development – The bishop on e7 keeps the c5-break, …Nf6, and …b6–…Ba6 possibilities in reserve. It also minimizes the chance of being harassed by Bg5 or e5 forks.
- Delayed Commitment – By not blocking the f-pawn with …Nf6 immediately, Black can sometimes play …f6 in one move, undermining the e4–e5 chain without losing time.
Typical Move Orders & Plans
Two of the most common continuations are:
- 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Ne2 c5 – a Rubinstein-style structure where Black will hit d4 with …c5 and pressure e5 with …f6.
- 4.e5 c5 5.Nf3 Nc6 – closer to a Classical French; Black keeps pieces on the board and strikes in the center with …f6 or on the queenside with …Qb6 and …cxd4.
Strategic Themes
- The …c5 Break – As in almost every French, Black aims for the thematic pawn lever …c5 to attack White’s d4-pawn and gain space.
- The …f6 Break – Frequently easier to arrange because the knight has not yet occupied f6. After …f6, Black’s light-squared bishop may re-emerge via d7–e8–h5 or a6.
- Light-Square Safety – By sitting on e7 the bishop guards the kingside light squares, making the queen foray 4.Qg4 (so annoying in many French lines) virtually harmless.
- Piece Play vs. Space – White usually enjoys extra central space; Black relies on timely pawn breaks and piece activity to equalize.
Historical Notes & Popularity
The variation first cropped up in tournament play in the late 19th century but never became mainstream. It appeared sporadically in the games of Aron Nimzowitsch and, much later, in the repertoires of grandmasters such as Victor Korchnoi, Alexander Morozevich, and Étienne Bacrot as a one-off surprise weapon.
Because databases and engines now dominate opening preparation, the line has gained a niche following in rapid and blitz where its “anti-theory” character is particularly valuable.
Illustrative Game
The following rapid game shows typical ideas for both sides:
Jean-Marc Degraeve – Étienne Bacrot, French Rapid Championship 2013 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Be7 (…) The struggle revolves around …c5 and …f6; Black eventually sacrifices the exchange for a strong passed pawn and wins a spectacular king hunt.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Because the bishop withdraws so early, Russian club players jokingly call the line “The Shy Bishop French.”
- GM Alexander Morozevich once played 3…Be7 three times in a single Bundesliga weekend (2007), scoring 2½/3 and inspiring a brief surge in popularity on the ICC server.
- Engines evaluate the position after 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7 as roughly equal (≈0.00 at depth 40), yet the human score in databases shows White winning 55 % of the time—evidence that understanding the resulting structures is more important than the raw evaluation.
Summary
3…Be7 in the French Defense is a fully playable but less traveled path. It achieves three practical aims: keeps theory to a minimum, maintains structural flexibility, and prepares thematic breaks without immediate commitments. For French players seeking a surprise weapon—especially in faster time controls—it is an attractive, strategically rich choice.