The French Defence is one of Black’s most popular and uncompromising responses to 1.e4, and it’s important to have a viable weapon prepared. In this presentation, IM Sam Collins explains the Korchnoi Gambit, which is characterised by White placing his king’s knight on f3 in the Tarrasch variation. The gambit is introduced in its pure form after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 2.Nd2 Nf6 3.e5 Nfd7 4.Bd3 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Ngf3!?, but can also arise after Black’s other common third move responses 3…Be7 and 3…c5.

Over the course of analysing several recent high level games Collins explains how White should proceed whether Black accepts the offer (6…cxd4 7.cxd4 Qb6 8.0-0 Nxd4 or 6…Be7 7.0-0 a5 8.Re1 cxd4 9.cxd4 Qb6 10.Nb1! Nxd4) or declines with the fashionable lines based on the aggressive counterstrike …g5.