French Defense: Advance Paulsen Attack
French Defense – Advance, Paulsen Attack
Definition
The Paulsen Attack is a sub-variation of the Advance French that arises after the moves 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3. The key move 6.a3 (instead of the more common 6.Be2 or 6.Bd3) prepares b2–b4, keeps the black queen from harassing the b-pawn, and stops ...Bb4+ pinning the knight. The line is named after the 19-century strategist Louis Paulsen, who championed the prophylactic idea of first restraining the opponent before expanding.
Typical Move Order
One of the most frequently encountered sequences is:
- e4 e6
- d4 d5
- e5 c5
- c3 Nc6
- Nf3 Qb6
- a3 (→ Paulsen Attack)
Strategic Themes
- Queenside space: The pawn on a3 supports b4, giving White a clamp on the c5- and d4-squares and pushing Black’s pieces backward.
- Restricting counterplay: By preventing ...Bb4+ and taking the b4 square, White limits Black’s typical play against the e5-pawn.
- Piece development: White often places the dark-squared bishop on d3, castles kingside, and later reroutes the c1-bishop via e3 or g5 after the pawn structure clarifies.
- Center tension: Black still aims for a break with ...f6 or ...cxd4 followed by ...f6; timing is critical because premature strikes can leave weaknesses on e6 and d5.
Plans for Both Sides
White:
- Push b4; sometimes follow up with bxc5 to undermine the black center.
- Occupy the d4-square with a knight after c5 is exchanged.
- Launch kingside play with h4–h5 if Black castles short.
Black:
- Break with ...f6 to hit the e5-pawn, or ...cxd4 at the right moment.
- Exploit the long diagonal with ...Bd7 and ...Bb5 or ...Be7 followed by ...0-0.
- Create pressure on the b-file after White advances b2-b4.
Historical Background
Louis Paulsen (1833-1891) was among the first masters to stress prophylaxis—preventing the opponent’s play before pursuing one’s own attack. His idea of preparing b2-b4 with a3 foreshadowed modern opening concepts. Although the line never became mainstream at the top level, it enjoyed occasional revivals:
- Alekseyev – Euwe, Zürich 1953 (White scored a smooth positional win).
- Adams – Vachier-Lagrave, Dortmund 2013 (draw after complex maneuvering).
Illustrative Mini-Game
The game (a modern training example, White 1-0) shows the typical Paulsen plan: prepare b4, break open the center only when fully developed, and finally sacrifice to mate along the g-file.
Interesting Facts
- The line is part of ECO code C02. Many databases mark 6.a3 with an exclamation point because of its freshness in rapid play.
- In online blitz, computers show the move 6.a3 scores almost the same as the “main line” 6.Be2, reflecting how human discomfort with an unfamiliar setup can be a practical weapon.
- Paulsen’s ideas anticipated the later Nimzo-Indian and Hedgehog concepts—restraining moves first, pawn thrusts second.
When to Use the Paulsen Attack
Choose 6.a3 if you enjoy:
- Slow, strategic battles with chances on both wings.
- Surprising French specialists who expect heavily analyzed main lines like 6.Be2 or 6.Bd3.
- Flexibility: the position often transposes into structures resembling the Advance Caro-Kann or even certain Queen’s Gambit Declined setups.
Summary
The French Defense Advance, Paulsen Attack is a space-gaining, prophylactic system that delays direct confrontation until White is fully prepared. Though not the most popular branch of the Advance French, its strategic depth, historical pedigree, and surprise value make it a worthy addition to any player’s repertoire.