French: Advance Variation, Euwe, 6.a3

French Defense: Advance Variation

Definition

The Advance Variation of the French Defense arises after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5. By pushing the e-pawn one square farther, White immediately stakes out space in the center, creating the fixed pawn chain e5–d4 versus e6–d5 that shapes the entire middlegame.

Strategic Ideas

• Space Advantage: The pawn on e5 cramps Black’s kingside pieces, especially the knight on g8.
• Pawn-Chain Logic: According to pawn chain theory, each side should attack the base of the opponent’s chain; hence Black strikes at d4 (…c5, …Qb6) while White often prepares c2-c3 and f2-f4.
• Light-Squared Bishop: Black’s “French bishop” on c8 is notoriously bad. In the Advance, Black may activate it via …b6 and …Ba6 or …Bd7–e8–h5.
• Breaks for White: c2-c4 (Milner-Barry Gambit), f2-f4, or even g2-g4 (Bayonet Attack) to seize kingside initiative.

Main Branches

1. 3…c5 4. c3 Nc6 (or 4…Qb6) – the classical route.
2. 3…c5 4. c3 Bd7 5. Nf3 – the Petrosian Variation.
3. 3…c5 4. c3 Qb6 – the Short Variation, delaying …Nc6.
4. 3…b6 – the Steinitz Plan, preparing …Ba6.

Historical Notes

The Advance was championed by Aron Nimzowitsch in the 1920s as a practical test of his pawn-chain theories. Later, Viktor Korchnoi, Nigel Short, and eventually Magnus Carlsen re-popularized it at elite level. In online blitz, it remains a favorite because it avoids the immense French theory after 3. Nc3 and 3. Nd2.

Illustrative Game

Short – Kamsky, Candidates 1994. White’s willingness to sacrifice a pawn for quick development illustrates the dynamic potential of the Advance.

Interesting Facts

• In the 1962 Candidates, Korchnoi used the Advance three times against strong French specialists, scoring 2½/3!
• The Milner-Barry Gambit (5. Nf3 cxd4 6. Bd3) is one of the rare early queen sacrifices that is theoretically sound for practical play.

Euwe

Who Was Euwe?

Dr. Machgielis “Max” Euwe (1901-1981) was the 5th World Chess Champion (1935-1937) and the only amateur ever to hold the title. A Dutch mathematician and later president of FIDE, Euwe combined academic rigor with competitive brilliance.

Contributions to Chess

• Opening Theory: His analytical books systematized the Queen’s Indian, Dutch Defense, and various 1. e4 e5 lines. Several lines bear his name, e.g. the Euwe Variation in the Dutch (1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Qe8) and in the Grünfeld (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bf4).
• Literature: His two-volume “The Middle Game” (with H. Kramer) remains a classic blueprint for positional understanding.
• Computers: As FIDE President, Euwe sanctioned the historic “Kasparov vs. Deep Blue” match trajectory, recognizing the importance of man-machine competition.

Style and Legacy

Euwe’s play was characterized by scientific clarity; he excelled at exploiting small positional edges with impeccable calculation. Though overshadowed by contemporaries Alekhine and Capablanca, Euwe’s methodical approach influenced later champions such as Botvinnik and Karpov.

Memorable Game

Euwe – Alekhine, World Championship 1935, Game 26. Euwe’s precise exploitation of the d5-outpost helped him to level the match, eventually winning the title.

Interesting Tidbits

• Euwe juggled chess with a full-time teaching career; he sometimes graded math exams between tournament rounds!
• He wrote the first widely-read chess primer aimed at women, “Het Schaakspel voor Dames,” in 1932.
• His surname is pronounced roughly “UH-vuh,” not “you-wee.”

6.a3

Definition

6.a3 denotes any opening line where the side to move pushes the a-pawn on move six. The most commonly cited instance is in the Sicilian Najdorf (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a3), sometimes called the Adams Attack or Kmoch-Najdorf. It is also seen in the King’s Indian and Queen’s Gambit complexes.

Purpose of the Move

• Prophylaxis: Stops …Bb4 and …Nb4 ideas, securing the c3-knight.
• Queenside Expansion: Prepares b2-b4 and a future rook lift via a1.
• Flexibility: Unlike 6. Be3 or 6. Bg5 in the Najdorf, 6. a3 avoids heavy theoretical battles while keeping options open (f2-f4, Be2, g2-g3).

Typical Najdorf Continuations

1. 6…e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be2 – quiet development.
2. 6…Nc6 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5 – transposing to sharper lines but with a useful a3 inserted.
3. 6…g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. f3 – hybrid with the English Attack.

Concrete Example

Anand – Topalov, Linares 1997. Anand used 6. a3 to sidestep Topalov’s preparation and steer the game into fresh territory, eventually winning after a tactical skirmish on the kingside.

Other Openings Featuring 6.a3

• King’s Indian, Bagirov Line: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. a3. White aims for b2-b4 expansion without allowing …Nc6–b4.
• QGA Resurrection: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. a3 – a modern try to avoid …Bb4+ ideas.

Fun Facts

• The earliest known use of 6. a3 in the Najdorf was by Austrian master Erich Eliskases in 1953, years before Bobby Fischer made 6. B e2 mainstream.
• GM Michael Adams adopted 6. a3 so frequently in the 1990s that some databases list the move as the “Adams Attack.”
• A well-timed 6. a3 can also enable the spectacular rook-swing Ra1-a4-h4 in attacking schemes.