French Advance - Advance Variation (French Defense)
French Advance
Definition
The term French Advance most commonly refers to the Advance Variation of the French Defense, reached after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5. White advances the e-pawn to e5 on move three, immediately gaining space in the center and locking the pawn structure. This single tempo shapes the entire middlegame, defining plans for both sides.
How It Is Used in Chess
- Opening Choice. White players select the French Advance to avoid the heavily analyzed 3. Nc3 and 3. Nd2 lines, while still aiming for long-term space and kingside play.
- Structure-Driven Plans. After 3. e5, the closed center means plans revolve around pawn breaks (…c5, …f6 for Black; c4, f4–f5 for White), piece maneuvering, and outposts on c5/e4/f5.
- Transpositional Tool. Black can reach similar structures from the Caro-Kann Advance (1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5) or the King’s Pawn Game via move-order tricks, so knowing the French Advance has broad practical value.
Strategic Themes
- Space versus Counterplay. White’s pawn on e5 cramps Black’s kingside pieces, but it also fixes a target: the d4-pawn becomes backward on an open file after …c5 cxd4.
- Key Breaks.
- Black: …c5, …f6, and sometimes …g5 in a minority-style attack.
- White: c4, f4–f5, and h4–h5 in kingside assaults.
- Minor-Piece Battles. The “good French bishop” (Black’s light-squared bishop) often emerges with …b6–…Ba6 or …Bd7–…Be8–…Bh5, while White strives for the classic Nf3–g5–e4 knight reroute.
- Endgame Considerations. Locked pawn chains create mobile pawn majorities (queenside for Black, kingside for White) and fixed weaknesses, so early exchanges must be weighed carefully.
Historical Significance
The Advance Variation dates back to the 19th century. Wilhelm Steinitz used the line against Joseph Blackburne in Vienna 1873, demonstrating that locking the center could prepare a slow, methodical buildup—an early example of “prophylactic” play. Later, players such as Aron Nimzowitsch (who famously coined the term “blockade”) embraced the French Advance as a laboratory for strategic ideas.
Illustrative Example
The following miniature shows classic themes:
After 8…Bd7 Black has achieved the thematic …c5 break, fixing d4 as a target, while White keeps a space edge and prospects of Nc3, a3, and Be3. Both sides have clear, textbook plans—a perfect “snapshot” of the French Advance.
Famous Games
- Nimzowitsch – Bogoljubov, Karlsbad 1923. Nimzowitsch demonstrated the power of a kingside pawn storm with f4–f5–f6.
- Short – Timman, Tilburg 1990. Short’s exchange sacrifice on f6 showcased modern, dynamic handling for White.
- Caruana – Anand, Wijk aan Zee 2019. Caruana used the atypical 4. Nf3 and 5. a3 to sidestep theory, proving the line’s continued relevance at elite level.
Interesting Facts
- The Advance Variation once carried the nickname “French Steinitz,” reflecting Steinitz’s preference for an early e5 advance in several openings.
- World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik recommended the Advance in his famous 1960 Soviet Chess Encyclopedia, calling it “an ideal schoolroom for learning pawn-chain strategy.”
- Because of the locked center, games often reach move 20 with all heavy pieces still on the board—one reason rapid and blitz players favor the line for its practical time-pressure complications.
Summary
The French Advance is more than just three opening moves; it is a strategic battleground revolving around space, pawn breaks, and patient maneuvering. Whether you seek to expand your opening repertoire or deepen your understanding of closed-center play, the Advance Variation offers rich, instructive positions that have stood the test of time—from Steinitz to Caruana.