Advance Variation
3.e5
2 lines
French Defense for Black
For Black1.e4 e6
18 lines
French Defense for Black: the pawn on d5 fights for the center, and the c5 break undermines White's pawn chain. The Advance, Classical, Tarrasch and Exchange Variations, master lines and the opponent's mistakes.
Variations
Each card holds all the lines of one variation.
Classical Variation
3.Nc3 Nf6
6 lines
Exchange Variation
3.exd5
2 lines
White's other moves
2.Nf3, 2.Nc3, 2.f4, 2.e5
6 lines
Tarrasch Variation
3.Nd2
2 lines
The idea of the opening
The French Defense is the reply 1...e6 to 1.e4; the main position arises after 2.d4 d5. The modest first move opens the way for the bishop on f8, and the pawn on d5 challenges the pawn on e4. White can defend it with the knight, push it to e5 or trade on d5.
Black's main break is the pawn to c5: it challenges the pawn on d4, the base of White's chain. If White has pushed the pawn to e5, more pieces join the pressure on d4: the knight on c6, the queen on b6, and the other knight, which comes out to f5 via e7. The chain can also be attacked at its head — with f6.
The pawn on e6 blocks the bishop on c8. In the Exchange Variation it is free: after 3...exd5 its diagonal is open all the way to h3. Wilhelm Steinitz, the first world champion, called the French Defense the most boring opening, and one of its variations now bears his name.
Black's plans
- Undermine White's chain with the c5 break
- Put pressure on d4: the knight on c6, the queen on b6, the knight via e7 to f5
- Attack the head of the chain with f6
- Play on the queenside with the pawns a6 and b5
White's plans
- Push the pawn to e5 and take the f6 square away from the knight
- Support e5 with the pawn on f4
- Hold d4 with the pawn on c3 and the knights
Main systems
The branches where the game starts. Each one is a separate variation in the trainer.
Advance Variation 3.e5
White pushes the pawn to e5, and Black immediately replies with the 3...c5 break and puts pressure on d4. After 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 the course covers the Euwe Variation 5...Bd7: against the calm 6.Be2 the knight reroutes via e7 to f5, and the early sortie 6.Bb5 is a mistake — after 6...Nxe5 Black is a pawn up.
In the trainer · 2 lines
Classical Variation 3.Nc3 Nf6
The knight on f6 also attacks the pawn on e4. Against 4.e5 the knight retreats to d7 — the Steinitz Variation; after 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 (the Boleslavsky Variation) Black trades on d4 and takes the pawn on b2, or plays 7...a6 and 8...b5. Against 4.Bg5 — the Burn Variation 4...dxe4 with the Morozevich Line 6...gxf6.
In the trainer · 6 lines
Tarrasch Variation 3.Nd2
The knight defends e4 from d2: Anatoly Karpov played this with great success. Black replies with the Open System 3...c5. After 4.Ngf3 cxd4 White recaptures with the knight 5.Nxd4 or trades 5.exd5, and then the queen takes on d5 and retreats to d6.
In the trainer · 2 lines
Exchange Variation 3.exd5
The pawns are symmetrical, and the bishop on c8 is no longer shut in: the Exchange Variation is known for giving Black equal play right away. The same position can arise after 2.Nf3 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.d4.
In the trainer · 2 lines
White's other moves 2.Nf3, 2.Nc3, 2.f4, 2.e5
Against 2.Nf3 and 2.Nc3 the course covers the Two Knights Variation, and against 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.b4 the Wing Gambit: Black takes the pawn and develops. The La Bourdonnais Variation 2.f4 and the Steinitz Attack 2.e5 are early pawn moves; against 2.e5 the reply 2...d6 sets a trap. Separately — the Franco-Sicilian Defense 2...c5.
In the trainer · 6 lines
Typical mistakes and traps
Traps from these positions — why the natural move is a mistake and how to defend.
An early bishop to b5
French Defense
White brings the bishop to b5 against the knight on c6 — the knight takes the pawn on e5, and the bishops face each other, with White's undefended.
In the trainer
More opponent mistakes in the lines
- Bishop to e3 against the c5 break
- Steinitz Attack: playing f4
How the lines were chosen
The lines are chosen from statistics of real games between amateur players of all levels. The set covers the opponent's most common replies and typical mistakes — moves after which, according to a chess engine, their position gets noticeably worse. A mistake is included only if a noticeable share of games reaches it. Traps are lines where your move provokes the mistake.
FAQ
How do you play the French Defense as Black?
After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 the key is the c5 break against the base of White's chain. In the Advance Variation, the knight on c6, the queen on b6 and the knight on f5 put pressure on d4. If the pawn on e5 has chased the knight from f6, it retreats to d7, and the pawn goes to c5. The chain can also be attacked at its head — with f6.
Which French Defense variations are covered?
The Advance Variation 3.e5, the Classical Variation 3.Nc3 Nf6 with the Steinitz and Burn Variations, the Tarrasch Variation 3.Nd2 and the Exchange Variation 3.exd5. Also White's second moves 2.Nf3, 2.Nc3, 2.f4, 2.e5 and the Wing Gambit.
What is the Exchange Variation of the French Defense?
3.exd5 exd5: the pawns are symmetrical, the bishop on c8 is free, and Black gets equal play right away. If White threatens to take on h7 with check while the knight on f6 is pinned, the queen goes to c7 and breaks the pin.
What is the Wing Gambit?
2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.b4: White gives up a pawn to lure the pawn on c5 away from the center. Black takes the gambit pawn 4...cxb4 and develops; after 5.a3 Nc6 6.axb4 Bxb4 Black is a pawn up again.
Can I train for free?
Yes: five lines are free — the Advance Variation 3.e5 with the knight on f5, White's early sortie 6.Bb5 in it (the Euwe Variation), the Steinitz Variation 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5, the Exchange Variation 3.exd5 and 2.Nf3 with the pawn push 4.e5. The other lines are in PRO.