French Variation, Normal

The Normal Variation of the French Sicilian, classified under ECO B40, arises when Black answers the Open line with 4...Nf6. The knight attacks e4 at once. Black wants to learn how White will cover that pawn before deciding whether to put the pawns on d6 and a6 or to aim for ...d5. Delaying ...Nc6 and ...d6 keeps Black's choice of setup open while placing a direct question to White.

5. Nc3 is chosen in about three games out of four. It defends e4 naturally, but it blocks the c-pawn, so White can no longer set up a Maroczy-style bind with c4. 5. Bd3 protects the pawn with the bishop and keeps c2-c4 available. 5. e5 looks like a gain of time but is an error, because 5...Qa5+ uncovers the hanging e5-pawn and wins material; Black scores heavily in practice after it. The engine regards the position as close to balanced with only a small plus for White. Its top choices are 5. Nc3, 5. Bd3 and 5. Nd2. On Lichess, Black wins slightly more often than White from this position.