Caissa Codex
C02

French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit

Chess diagram: French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit after 5. Nf3

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

150,507 games: White 54.4% / Draw 4.1% / Black 41.5%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
128,085128K
5,8715,871
3,0503,050
1,9171,917
1,8771,877
1,6601,660
1,3071,307
1,1021,102

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

−1.26 Black is better

Best play: 5... Nc6 6. Qg3 Qc7 7. Bd3 f6 8. exf6 Qxg3 9. hxg3 Nxf6 10. Bf4

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit (ECO C02, Open Games) is a gambit in the French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch Attack, reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Qg4 cxd4 5. Nf3 (5 moves).

In 150,507 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 54.4%, Black 41.5% and 4.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…Nc6, in 85% of those games.

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Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit (C02)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-advance-variation-nimzowitsch-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-advance-variation-nimzowitsch-gambit