This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
French Defense: Advance Variation
The Advance Variation of the French Defense arises after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5. Here, White gains space in the center by pushing the e-pawn forward to e5, aiming to cramp Black's position and restrict Black's central pawn breaks.
Characteristic: This variation is characterized by White's early pawn push to e5, which grabs space and challenges Black to undermine White's strong center from the flank. Black responds with ...c5, directly attacking White's d4 pawn and attempting to exert pressure on White's center.
Attacking or Defensive: As White, this is a somewhat attacking setup because White claims space and tries to restrict Black's pieces. Black's ...c5 is an attacking move, targeting White's center and trying to counterattack rather than simply defend.
Center Control: The Advance Variation is very much about controlling and contesting the center. White occupies the center with pawns on d4 and e5, while Black immediately challenges it with the c5 pawn break. Both sides fight actively for central influence.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the French Defense: Advance Variation, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 193 - Move #5 black
You can also discover how top players used French Defense: Advance Variation to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.