French Advance, Euwe, 6.Be2 Nge7

French: Advance

Definition

“French: Advance” (also called the Advance Variation of the French Defence) is the position reached after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5. White immediately pushes the e-pawn two squares, gaining space in the centre and fixing the pawn chain on dark squares.

Why it Is Played

  • Space grab: The pawn on e5 cramps Black’s king-side pieces.
  • Clear plans: Both sides receive textbook structures for a minority attack, pawn breaks and piece manoeuvres, making it a good learning tool.
  • Avoids theory slug-fest: Compared with the sharp 3.Nc3 or 3.Nd2, the Advance often leads to strategic rather than tactical battles.

Typical Ideas

  1. White
    • Prepare the f2–f4 break to reinforce the centre or open the f-file.
    • Attack on the king side via Qg4, h4-h5 or Bd3 & Bxh7+ sacrifices.
    • Exploit the outpost on d6 after c2-c4 and sometimes c5.
  2. Black
    • Undermine with …c5 and/or …f6; the d4–e5 chain becomes a target.
    • Trade light-squared bishops via …Bd7–b5 or …b6 & …Ba6 to hit d3.
    • Pressure on d4 with pieces or a timely …f6 break to dissolve the centre.

Strategic & Historical Significance

First tried in master play in the 1860s, the Advance became popular when Aron Nimzowitsch adopted it in the 1920s as a practical illustration of his blockade theories. Later, players like Viktor Kortchnoi and Kevin Spraggett modernised the variation, contributing lines such as 4.c3 and 4.Nf3.

Illustrative Mini-Game

Below is a crisp attacking win that shows typical themes:

Trivia

  • When 3.e5 was first played, many analysts claimed it was “anti-chess” because it locked the centre too early—an attitude utterly reversed in modern times.
  • The Advance is a favourite of rapid-chess specialists; its plans are so thematic that players can save time on the clock.

Euwe

Definition

“Euwe” refers to Machgielis (“Max”) Euwe (1901-1981), the Dutch grandmaster who was the fifth World Chess Champion (1935-1937), a prolific author, mathematician, and later President of FIDE.

Career Highlights

  • Won the 1935 World Championship match vs. Alexander Alekhine by the narrow margin of 15½–14½.
  • Lost the 1937 return match but remained the only amateur to have won the world title.
  • Served as FIDE President (1970-1978), guiding the organisation through the Fischer–Spassky boom.

Contributions to Chess Theory

Euwe’s analytical legacy is vast:

  • Co-author of the seminal The Road to Chess Mastery series, introducing structured, pedagogical writing to opening theory.
  • Developed systems in multiple openings—e.g., the Euwe Variation of the Nimzo-Indian (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5).
  • Pioneered computer-chess research by supervising Dutch projects in the 1970s.

Famous Games

  • Euwe – Alekhine, World Ch. (13), 1935
    A classic French Defence where Euwe’s thematic minority attack on the queen side brought him the full point.
  • Kasparov – Euwe, Simul 1986
    Although already in his 80s, Euwe held the teenaged Kasparov to a draw—an anecdote often cited to show his undiminished strength.

Interesting Facts

  • Euwe earned a Ph.D. in mathematics and taught high-school classes during his reign as World Champion.
  • The Max Euwe Centrum in Amsterdam houses a museum, library, and giant outdoor chessboard dedicated to his memory.
  • He popularised the practice of annotating games for average club players, influencing modern commentary style.

6.Be2 Nge7

Definition

“6.Be2 Nge7” most commonly describes a branch of the King’s Indian Defence, Classical System. The standard move order is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 Nge7. Black develops the knight to e7 instead of the more popular f6–e4 hobby-horse with …e5. The line is also known as the Smyslov System.

Strategic Purpose

  • Flexibility: By delaying …e5, Black keeps the central tension ambiguous and can choose between …f5, …c5 or even …e5 at a later moment.
  • Avoids Petrosian set-ups: White cannot immediately clamp down with Bg5/h3 after …e5 because that break is not yet played.
  • Knight destiny: The e7-knight often reroutes to c6, g6, or f5 depending on White’s configuration.

Main Continuations

  1. 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne5 – Black fights for the c4 & d3 squares.
  2. 7.d5 Ne5 8.O-O Nxf3+ 9.Bxf3 – Exchanges soften White’s attacking potential.
  3. 7.Be3 f5 8.d5 Ne5 – The typical pawn-storm with …f5 characterises Smyslov’s original concept.

Historical Context

Grandmaster Vasily Smyslov began experimenting with …Nge7 in the 1950s as a way to sidestep then-fashionable main lines. The system experienced revivals by Anatoly Karpov in the 1970s and Peter Svidler in modern times, proving its soundness at the highest level.

Model Game

Smyslov – Bronstein, USSR Ch. 1959

Practical Tips

  • Be alert to the …f7-f5 break; it is almost obligatory sooner or later.
  • White players who enjoy a space advantage should consider 7.d5 to cramp Black, but must reckon with piece trades that lessen the sting of the attack.
  • Do not allow a White knight to sit permanently on e6—Black’s dark- squared bishop is vital for controlling that square.

Trivia

  • In 2016, Magnus Carlsen surprised Levon Aronian with …Nge7 in a rapid game—proof that “old” systems can serve as potent surprise weapons.
  • The setup also surfaces in some lines of the Sicilian Scheveningen and Nimzo-Indian, illustrating the universal idea of knight redeployment before committing the centre.
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Last updated 2025-07-03