French: Advance, 3...b6

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 one square farther, White immediately locks the central pawn chain (pawns on e5 and d5) and prevents Black’s light-squared bishop from developing outside the pawn chain. In ECO codes it is catalogued mainly under C02–C03.

Typical Move Order

Standard main lines continue:

• 3…c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 (the traditional main line)
• 3…c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Bd7 (the Paulsen system)
• 3…Bb4+ 4.c3 Bf8 (the Milner-Barry line, often leading to the Milner-Barry Gambit after 5.Nf3 c5 6.Bd3)
• 3…c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2 (modern treatment used by elite grandmasters)

Strategic Ideas

• White’s plans
  • Space advantage: the pawn on e5 cramps Black’s kingside.
  • Minor-piece manoeuvres: Nb1-d2-f1-g3 or a quick c3-c4 to undermine the d5 pawn.
  • Pawn storms on the kingside with f4, g4, h4 if Black castles short.
• Black’s plans
  • Base breaks: …c5 (immediate) and …f6 (later) to challenge White’s pawn chain.
  • Pressure on d4 via …Qb6, …Nc6, and sometimes …Bb4.
  • Long-term piece activity—proving that the bad French bishop can become good once the center opens.

Historical Background

The Advance first achieved prominence in the late 19th century thanks to players like Louis Paulsen and Aron Nimzowitsch, who appreciated the spatial grip it gives White. It saw a resurgence in the 1980s when players such as GM Mikhail Gurevich and GM Nigel Short used it as a practical weapon to avoid heavily analyzed lines of the Tarrasch (3.Nd2) and Classical (3.Nc3).

Example Game

Below is a concise miniature demonstrating typical themes.

[[Pgn| e4|e6|d4|d5|e5|c5|c3|Nc6|Nf3|Qb6|Bd3|cxd4|cxd4|Bd7|O-O|Nxd4|Nxd4|Qxd4|Nc3|Qxe5|Re1| fen|rnb1k2r/pp1b2pp/4p3/4q3/3P4/2NBB3/PP3PPP/R3R1K1 b kq - 0 12 ]]

Interesting Facts

• The Advance was one of the few anti-French systems recommended by the legendary computer Deep Blue’s opening book.
• World Champion Magnus Carlsen has occasionally employed 3.e5 in rapid and blitz to sidestep heavy theory.
• In the famous “Immortal Short” game (Short–Timman, Tilburg 1991), the pawn chain structure from the Advance occurred even though the game started as a Nimzo-Indian!

French: Advance, 3…b6

Definition

After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5, Black can choose the rare move 3…b6. This aims to fianchetto the light-squared bishop to b7 (or sometimes Ba6) instead of the mainstream 3…c5. Although less popular, it is fully playable and offers Black an unorthodox, strategically rich struggle.

Strategic Purpose

• Fianchetto Pressure: …Bb7 hits the e4–e5 complex and indirectly eyes d4.
• Piece Activity: By refraining from an immediate …c5, Black keeps the pawn structure flexible; …c5 can still be played later under more favorable circumstances.
• Minor-piece Exchange: Ideas like …Ba6 can trade Black’s traditionally “bad” bishop for White’s good dark-squared bishop on d3 or c2.
• Psychological Factor: Because the line is uncommon, it can take a theoretically well-prepared opponent out of book within a few moves.

Typical Continuations

1. 4.Nf3 (most flexible) 4…Ba6 5.Bxa6 Nxa6 6.O-O c5 – Black aims at an improved version of the mainline structure.
2. 4.Bb5+ (checking to provoke weaknesses) 4…Bd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 – White keeps tension; Black has not wasted time.
3. 4.c3 c5 5.Nf3 Qd7 (or …Ne7) 6.Bd3 Ba6 – illustrates the core …Ba6 idea.

Historical Notes

The move 3…b6 dates back at least to the 1920s. Grandmasters such as Akiba Rubinstein and later David Bronstein experimented with it, searching for new ways to revitalise the French. In modern times it has been essayed by creative players like Alexei Shirov and Baadur Jobava.

Illustrative Mini-Game

[[Pgn| e4|e6|d4|d5|e5|b6|Nf3|Ba6|Bxa6|Nxa6|c3|Qd7|O-O|c5|Re1|Ne7|Nbd2|Nc6|Nf1|cxd4|cxd4| fen|r1b2rk1/p2q1ppp/n4n2/2pP4/3P4/2P2N2/PP3PPP/R1BQR1K1 w - - 0 14 |arrows|c8a6|squares|d5,e5]]

Practical Pros & Cons

• Pros
  • Leads to fresh positions with little forcing theory.
  • Allows creative piece play around squares a6, c6, and f5.
• Cons
  • Concedes the center temporarily; if Black does not strike back in time, the e5–d4 wedge can become overwhelming.
  • The queenside structure (…b6) may create long-term weaknesses on dark squares such as c6, a6, and c7.

Interesting Tidbits

• The variation occasionally appears in correspondence chess, where players value its strategic depth and room for original analysis.
• According to the ChessBase Mega Database, 3…b6 scores roughly 48% for Black—better than its reputation suggests.
• Some theoreticians refer to the line informally as the “Steinitz Fianchetto,” though no single official name has stuck.