Which tactic was used to thwart potential German counterattacks?

Due the probability of a German counterattack, the Westen Allies engaged into an initial defensive against any likely invasion by creating a system of fortresses on the frontier but also leaving gaps to be able to canalize any German attack; one of those offensives around 1914 in WWI was called "The First Battle of the Marne", resulted in a victory for the Allies.