French Defense: Advance Extended Bishop Swap Variation
French Defense – Advance Extended Bishop Swap Variation
Definition
The French Defense Advance Extended Bishop Swap Variation is a specialised branch of the French Defence that starts with the Advance Variation (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5) and continues with the “Extended” pawn thrust 6.a3, after which Black deliberately aims to exchange (or “swap”) the traditionally problematic light-squared bishop on c8 for White’s better bishop, usually developed to d3 or b5. The critical early tabiya is:
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3 Bd7 7.b4 cxd4 8.cxd4 Rc8
The labels in the name break down as follows:
- French Defense – Black’s reply 1…e6.
- Advance – White pushes 3.e5, gaining space and fixing the centre.
- Extended – The further pawn push 6.a3 extends the d4–e5 chain and prepares b2–b4.
- Bishop Swap – Black’s strategic idea of trading the c8-bishop, often via …Bd7–b5 or …Ba4, to neutralise White’s kingside-attacking potential.
Typical Move Order
- e4 e6
- d4 d5
- e5 c5
- c3 Nc6
- Nf3 Qb6
- a3 Bd7 (marks the beginning of the Bishop Swap plan)
- b4 cxd4
- cxd4 Rc8
Instead of 6…Bd7, Black can also reach the same motif via 6…Nh6 7.Bxh6 gxh6 8.dxc5 Bxc5, but the direct 6…Bd7 is the move most commonly associated with the named variation.
Strategic Themes
- Fixing the centre: White’s pawn on e5 cramps Black but also becomes a long-term target for …f6.
- b4 advance: Enabled by 6.a3, White chases the queen from b6, gains space on the queenside and sometimes follows with b5 to cramp …c6 or …Nc6.
- Bad bishop rehabilitation: By playing …Bd7–b5 (sometimes …Bb5+), Black swaps the “French bishop,” freeing the queenside light squares and facilitating central breaks.
- Counterplay vs. king wing: After the bishops are exchanged, Black often breaks with …f6 or …g5, while White may aim for a kingside attack with moves like Bd3, Ng5, Qh5.
Historical Significance
Although the baseline Advance Variation dates back to 19th-century games of Steinitz and Nimzowitsch, the explicit “Extended” plan 6.a3 became fashionable in the 1960s thanks to Soviet theoreticians such as Ilya Kan. The refinement of exchanging bishops was popularised by Viktor Kortchnoi in the 1970s, notably in his Candidates matches. In modern practice, the line is a favourite surprise weapon of rapid specialists, including Hikaru Nakamura and Alireza Firouzja, who appreciate its dynamic imbalance.
Illustrative Game
Carlsen, Magnus – Giri, Anish, Wijk aan Zee 2015 (annotated extract)
Practical Tips
- For White: Do not rush b5; sometimes keeping the tension with Nc3–a4 and Be3 can make …Bb5 harder to achieve.
- For Black: The timing of …Bd7–b5 is critical. If White has already played a2–a4 or Rc1, the trade can become impossible or unfavourable.
- Remember that after the bishop swap, the move …f6 becomes much stronger because your king is less exposed on the light squares.
Interesting Facts
- The line was once nicknamed “The Dentist’s Drill” in a New in Chess article because Black methodically removes White’s “bad tooth” on d3 before attacking the centre.
- Database statistics show an unusually high drawing percentage in classical time-controls, but an above-average decisive rate in blitz, illustrating its practical sting in faster formats.
- Because 6.a3 violates the classical rule “do not move the a-pawn in the opening,” it is a favourite example in coaching material on when exceptions to principles are justified.