title: First Steps: 1 e4 e5 (Everyman Chess)
author:  John Emms 
description: Throughout the coverage is extremely clear and should be especially of use to juniors and the weaker club player. (Sean Marsh <i>CHESS Magazine, Feb 2018</i>)<br /><br />This is a fun and informative book. While some of the material is basic ... much of it stresses the micro-principles that when adhered to lead to winning chess play. First Steps: 1 e4 e5 is more of an instructional manual about piece activity in the open games than an opening book, as such it is suitable for a broader range of players than its title suggests. (Mark Donlan <i>ChessCafe.com, April 2018</i>)
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  Chapter 4
  
  
  The Main Line
  
  
    
  
  
  1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 Nc6
  
  
  ![](10_part_1_chapter_4_converted_1.png)
  
  
  Chapter Guide
  
  
  Chapter 4 – The Main Line
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 Nc6 7.Be3 Bf5 8.Nc3 e6
  9.Nf3
  
  
  Introduction
  
  
  A) 9th Move Alternatives
  
  
  B) 9...Bg4
  
  
  C1) 9...Be7 (various)
  
  
  C2) 9...Be7 (with 15...Rd7)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Introduction
  
  
  1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5
  
  
  ![](10_part_1_chapter_4_converted_2.png)
  
  
  Position after: 6.fxe5
  
  
  6...Nc6
  
  
  The line 6...Bf5 [6...g6 7.Nc3 Bg7 8.c5! Nd5 9.Bc4 c6 10.Qb3 0-0 11.Nf3±]
  6...Bf5 7.Nc3 e6 8.Nf3 Bb4?! is tactically flawed. [8...Be7 9.Be3 0-0 10.Be2
  f6 11.exf6 Bxf6 12.0-0 transposes to the main line as Black doesn’t have
  better than 12...Nc6] 9.Bd3
  
  
  ![](10_part_1_chapter_4_converted_3.png)
  
  
  Position after: 9.Bd3
  
  
  A) 9...Bg4?! 10.0-0 Nc6 [10...c5 11.Ne4+–] 11.c5 Nd5 12.Ne2 Bxf3 13.Rxf3 Nxd4
  14.Nxd4 Bxc5 15.Kh1+– Xiong, J – Bortnyk, O chess.com 2020.
  
  
  B) 9