Questions about this position in the French

Originally posted by Shallow Blue
Excuse my 1300s naiveté, but isn't that just asking for c5-c4? Might not be the most active move for black, but it doesn't look like it leaves white with much joy, either.

Richard

White generally loves it if the Black c-pawn gets advanced to c5 in the French; all the pressure is off his d4 pawn. The Bishop also just retreats to c2 and can still snap off the Knight if it jumps to f5.

Originally posted by enrico20
Black shouldn't "eat" the pawn. It is made of plastic and is not digestible.

They are also hard to pass...

Originally posted by no1marauder
White generally loves it if the Black c-pawn gets advanced to c5 in the French; all the pressure is off his d4 pawn. The Bishop also just retreats to c2 and can still snap off the Knight if it jumps to f5.

Agreed.

The more interesting question is why White would play Bf1-e2 on one move and then Be2-d3 on the next. It looks totally stupid but turns out not to be.

I played one game when White played

6. Be2
7. Bd3
and after 8. cxd4 in response to my 7. ... cxd4
9. Bc2


and yet I ended up getting the worst of it as black.

I suspect Bxh6 must be a 'better' move but this strange bishop manouevre is a funny way to play.