French Defense Advance Wade Variation
French Defense ‑ Advance Wade Variation
Definition
The French Defense Advance Wade Variation is a branch of the French Defense that arises after the moves:
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3
The signature move 6.a3 (instead of the more common 6.Be2 or 6.Bd3) was popularized by New Zealand–born British grandmaster Robert G. (“Bob”) Wade, from whom the variation takes its name. The idea is to prepare an orderly queenside expansion with b2-b4, restrain Black’s light-squared bishop, and keep flexibility in developing the king’s bishop.
Typical Usage and Plans
- White’s Concept:
- Guard the b4-square and blunt the Qa5/Qb6 pressure.
- Prepare b4, gaining space on the queenside and hitting the c5 pawn.
- Maintain the solid d4-e5-c3 pawn chain, aiming for a long-term space advantage.
- Develop the dark-squared bishop flexibly to either d3, e2, b5, or even g2 after a later g3 and Bg2.
- Black’s Counterplay:
- Attack White’s pawn chain at its base with …f6 or by combining …cxd4 with pressure on d4.
- Use the queen on b6 to eye both d4 and b2 while developing swiftly with …Bd7 …Rc8 or …c4.
- Consider an early break with …f6 before White plays b4, undermining the e5-pawn.
Strategic Significance
The Wade Variation offers a practical alternative for Advance Variation players who wish to avoid the heavily analyzed 6.Be2 lines. Because the pawn on a3 is non-committal yet multipurpose (stopping …Nb4 and preparing b4), White keeps options open and often drags Black into less-charted middlegames where understanding trumps memorization.
Historical Background
Bob Wade adopted the line in the 1950s and 60s, using it against strong Soviet players when concrete computer-checked theory did not yet exist. His idea of playing a3 “because it will be useful sooner or later” resonated with many positional players. Notable adherents have included Bent Larsen, Tony Miles, and more recently grandmasters such as Nikita Vitiugov and Etienne Bacrot, who have sprinkled it into their repertoires to surprise well-prepared opponents.
Illustrative Line
One common branch continues:
6…c4 7.Nbd2 Na5 8.g3 Bd7 9.Bg2 Ne7 10.h4 — White plans h4-h5 and kingside pressure while Black will try …Nf5 and …h5.
See the embedded miniature for another typical continuation:
In this sharp skirmish (a blitz game, Wade simul 1968), White exploited the half-open h-file and unsecured Black king to score a quick victory. While not “mainline theory,” it showcases typical themes: queenside pawn pushes follow a3, the h-file opens, and Black’s queen sometimes becomes a tactical target after …Qb6.
Famous Games
- Larsen – Portisch, Las Palmas 1975
Larsen employed 6.a3, later expanded with b4 and a4, and ground down Portisch in a 70-move endgame where the space advantage proved decisive. - Vitiugov – Kryvoruchko, European Championship 2013
White’s 6.a3 led to a long maneuvering struggle; Vitiugov’s novelty 13.Qe2 kept pieces on the board and he converted an extra pawn on move 55.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Bob Wade reputedly called 6.a3 “the waiting move that asks Black what exactly he plans to do about my center.”
- The ECO code for the Wade line is C02, the same subsection as the general Advance Variation, reflecting how niche the sub-variation still is in databases.
- Because a3 can be played on move 6, 7, or even 8, many French defenders must be ready to face the Wade plan by transposition.
- Modern engines give the position after 6.a3 a small, stable += advantage for White—evidence that Wade’s intuition was positionally sound even before computer validation.
Practical Tips
- If you play the Advance French as White and want to avoid forcing theory, add 6.a3 to your repertoire—opponents often improvise early.
- As Black, consider immediate central strikes with …f6 or adopt the Rubinstein-style setup …cxd4 Nxd4 Bd7 …Rc8 to keep pressure on c3 and d4.
- Study Bob Wade’s original games; many plans remain fully relevant 60 years later.