French Defense: Advance Variation
ECO C02 · 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5
The Advance Variation, 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5, gains space immediately and fixes the French pawn chain. It was championed by Aron Nimzowitsch and is simple to learn, which makes it popular at all levels.
Plans for White
White supports d4 with c3 and Nf3, often plays Bd3 or Be2 and castles, and uses the space for kingside play. The Milner-Barry Gambit sacrifices d4 for rapid development.
Plans for Black
Black attacks the chain with ...c5, ...Nc6, ...Qb6 and ...Nge7-f5 or ...f6, pressuring d4 from all sides.
Typical pawn structures
The classic d4-e5 chain against e6-d5, with Black's pressure on d4 and White's space on the kingside.
Who it suits
Players who like space and clear plans and want to avoid long theory.
Common traps
After 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.cxd4, the greedy 7...Nxd4? 8.Nxd4 Qxd4?? 9.Bb5+ loses Black's queen to a discovered attack on the d-file.
Variations
- French Defense: Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit — 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3
- French Defense: Advance Variation, Extended Bishop Swap — 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bd7
- French Defense: Advance Variation, Frenkel Gambit — 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. b4
- French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch Attack — 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Qg4
- French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch System — 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3
- French Defense: Advance Variation, Steinitz Variation — 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5
- French Defense: Advance Variation, Kupreichik Variation — 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Be3
- French Defense: Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit — 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Qg4 cxd4 5. Nf3
- French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack — 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3
- French Defense: Advance Variation, Ruisdonk Gambit — 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Bd3
- French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe Variation — 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7
- French Defense: Advance Variation, Wade Variation — 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7
- French Defense: Advance Variation, Main Line — 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3
- French Defense: Advance Variation, Lputian Variation — 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 Nh6
Related variations
- French Defense: Exchange Variation
- French Defense: Tarrasch Variation
- French Defense: Winawer Variation
- French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit
- French Defense: Horwitz Attack
- French Defense: King's Indian Attack
- French Defense: Knight Variation
- French Defense: La Bourdonnais Variation
- French Defense: St. George Defense
- French Defense: Classical Variation
- French Defense: Rubinstein Variation
- French Defense: McCutcheon Variation
- French Defense: Steinitz Variation
- French Defense: Alekhine-Chatard Attack
- French Defense: Bird Invitation
- French Defense: Chigorin Variation
- French Defense: Normal Variation
- French Defense: Queen's Knight
- French Defense: Réti-Spielmann Attack
- French Defense: Steiner Variation
- French Defense: Steinitz Attack
- French Defense: Baeuerle Gambit
- French Defense: Franco-Hiva Gambit
- French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense
- French Defense: Mediterranean Defense
- French Defense: Alapin Gambit
- French Defense: Diemer-Duhm Gambit
- French Defense: Franco-Hiva Gambit Accepted
- French Defense: Morphy Gambit
- French Defense: Paulsen Variation