French Advance, 5.Nf3 Qb6
French: Advance
Definition
The Advance Variation of the French Defence arises after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5. By pushing the e-pawn two squares, White immediately seizes space in the centre and restricts the natural development of Black’s king-side knight (…Nf6). The resulting pawn chain (e5–d4) is the strategic backbone of the entire system.
Typical Move-Order
While the core position is reached on move 3, the variation is often discussed with a few extra moves that shape its most popular tabiya:
- 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 (
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Strategic Themes
- Space versus Counterplay: White enjoys more room on the kingside and in the centre, but the fixed pawns can become targets.
- Pawn Chains and Breaks:
- White advances with f2–f4, g2–g4 or c3–c4 to gain further space.
- Black strives for …c5 (already played), …f6 and sometimes …g5 to undermine the e5-pawn.
- Minor-Piece Battles: The bad French bishop (c8) and White’s light-squared bishop (c1) often decide the middlegame. Black fights to liberate …c5 and …f6, while White aims to maintain the pawn chain and activate the g5 or b5 squares.
Historical Notes
The Advance Variation is almost as old as the French Defence itself. It was championed in the 19th century by Louis Paulsen and later found favour with World Champions such as Mikhail Botvinnik and Mikhail Tal. In modern times, Magnus Carlsen has used it as both White and Black, demonstrating its continued theoretical relevance.
Illustrative Game
Tal – Korchnoi, Candidates 1962: Tal used the Advance to generate a kingside initiative, sacrificing a pawn with 7. a3 cxd4 8. cxd4 f6 9. Nc3! and ultimately breaking through with a classic exchange sacrifice on e6.
Interesting Facts
- In the database of elite over-the-board games since 2000, the Advance Variation scores slightly above 50% for White, comparable to the more theoretical 3.Nc3.
- The structure often resembles the Caro-Kann Advance after Black plays …c5 and …Nc6, making knowledge transferable between openings.
- The line is popular in correspondence chess because the locked centre allows deep, computer-assisted manoeuvring.
5.Nf3 Qb6
Definition
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3, the reply 5…Qb6 is one of Black’s main counters. The queen simultaneously strikes at the d4-pawn, the b2-pawn and supports the thematic …cxd4 break. Because the queen leaves the back rank early, the move carries both dynamic opportunities and concrete tactical pitfalls.
Strategic Purpose
- Pressure on the Centre: If White neglects the d4-pawn, Black captures it and solves many French problems.
- Queenside Targets: By eyeing b2, Black provokes weakening moves like 6.a3 or 6.Bd3, which may slow White’s kingside ambitions.
- Facilitating …f6: Once the centre is clarified, Black’s queen side-steps potential pins on the e-file, making …f6 more feasible.
Main Replies for White
- 6.a3 – Protects b2, prepares b2-b4 and queenside expansion. After 6…cxd4 7.cxd4, an Isolated Queen’s Pawn (IQP) can arise for White, but with active piece play.
- 6.Bd3 – Covers the e4–b1 diagonal, sets up kingside castling, yet allows 6…cxd4 7.cxd4 Bd7 with solid play for Black.
- 6.Be2 – A flexible modern line, keeping options of short castling or long-term kingside pawn storms.
- 6.Nbd2 – Defends d4 indirectly, but blocks the c1-bishop, so White must later invest tempi to complete development.
Tactical Motifs
- Queen Trap Alert: After careless moves, the queen on b6 can be trapped by a timely Na4.
- c3–c4 Break: Even with the queen attacking d4, White sometimes uses c3–c4! to trade the c-pawn and gain a protected passed pawn on d4.
- King in the Centre: If Black hurries …f6 without completing development, White’s central pawns can transform into a direct attack on the exposed king.
Historical Example
Short – Timman, Tilburg 1991 followed 6.a3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nge7 8.Nc3 Nf5, where Short unleashed 9.Bb5! and later a kingside expansion that culminated in a decisive attack on move 30.
Modern Practice
The line remains popular at all levels. In the 2020 Candidates Tournament, both Ian Nepomniachtchi and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave included 5…Qb6 in their French repertoires, reflecting the move’s theoretical health.
Interesting Tidbits
- Engines rate 5…Qb6 as the critical test of 5.Nf3, often giving a near-equal evaluation when played with accurate follow-ups.
- Because the queen moves twice in the opening, classical trainers used to frown upon 5…Qb6; modern analysis, however, shows that the concrete pressure justifies the tempo investment.
- Rapid-chess specialist Alireza Firouzja has scored over 70% as Black with 5…Qb6 across online blitz events ().