French Defense: Advance Variation
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 · C02
Part of French Defense
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 14
Space limits the c8 bishop
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- 5.
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- 7.
The idea
White pushes e5 immediately, fixing the pawn chain before Black can develop and turning the game into a positional fight over d4 and the bad bishop on c8.
Main line: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bd7
What White wants
- Defend d4 with c3, Nf3 and Be2 and hold the chain
- Attack on the kingside with O-O, Re1 and a well-timed Bxh7+
- Keep the c8 bishop buried — it is the whole point of the line
What Black wants
- Attack d4 with ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...Qb6 from every side
- Trade pawns on d4 to open the position for the c8 bishop
- Play ...f6 to undermine e5 once the queenside is settled
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
Space limits the c8 bishop
The e6 pawn restricts Black's light-squared bishop, but the bishop can still develop via d7 or b7. White's extra space is useful only if d4 holds against ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...Qb6; Black's central pressure compensates for the cramped piece.
Common mistake
Assuming d4 is safe because Nf3 defends it. The example shows ...Nxd4 Nxd4 Qxd4 before White has castled; Black wins a pawn but exposes the queen. White must calculate the timing, rather than expect a pawn chain to defend itself.
Mistake example: Qxd4.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
r3kbnr/pp1b1ppp/1qn1p3/3pP3/3P4/3B1N2/PP3PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 1 8
Analyze this positionVariations
1 line branching from here.