French Defense: Advance Variation

In the Advance Variation of the French Defense (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5) White pushes the e-pawn at once, gaining space and closing the centre. Black's usual answer, 3...c5, attacks the base of White's pawn chain on d4.

Origins

The Advance was played often in the early days of the French. Aron Nimzowitsch believed it was White's best choice and added many ideas to its theory. It then fell out of fashion for most of the 20th century, until grandmaster Evgeny Sveshnikov revived it in the 1980s and remained a leading expert in it. In recent years it has become nearly as popular as the Tarrasch Variation (3.Nd2), and Alexander Grischuk has played it successfully at the highest level. It is also popular at club level because White's plan is simple and offers extra space and attacking chances.

The idea

The main line runs 3...c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3. With 5...Qb6, the most common move, Black adds pressure on d4 and hits b2, so White's dark-squared bishop cannot easily defend d4 without dropping the b2-pawn.

Main lines

• 5...Qb6, after 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 (the Paulsen Attack):
  • 6.a3, the main line, preparing b4 to gain space on the queenside. Black can answer 6...c4, which leads to a closed game, or 6...Nh6, aiming for ...Nf5;
  • 6.Be2, the main alternative, which simply prepares castling;
  • 6.Bd3, the Milner-Barry Gambit: 6...cxd4 7.cxd4 Bd7 8.O-O (main line) Nxd4 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 10.Nc3. Taking at once with 7...Nxd4?? loses the queen to 8.Nxd4 Qxd4 9.Bb5+.
• 5...Bd7, the Euwe Variation. Greco mentioned it as early as 1620, and Viktor Korchnoi popularised it in the 1970s. If White plays 6.a3, modern theory says 6...f6 at least equalises.
• 5...Nh6 has become a popular alternative.
• White's fourth-move alternatives include 4.Nf3, the Nimzowitsch System, 4.dxc5, the Steinitz Variation, and 4.Qg4, the Nimzowitsch Attack.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

• A simple, clear plan with extra space and kingside attacking chances.

Weaknesses

• The pawn on d4 is a permanent target for ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...Qb6.
• After 6.a3 c4 7.Nbd2 Na5 8.Rb1 Bd7, Black gets a firm grip on the b3-square.

Who should play it

The Advance suits White players who want a space advantage and a straightforward plan against the French without learning the Winawer and Classical systems.

The numbers

On Lichess Black wins more often overall, 49.8% against 45.7%. Black is ahead at 1400–1799 (50.9% against 45.2%) and 1800–2199 (49.1% against 46.3%). Under 1400 White is slightly ahead, 48.7% against 47.6%, and from 2200 up White leads 48.3% against 45.4%. In about 15,900 master games White won 36.4%, Black 28.8%, and 34.8% were drawn.