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 4. c3. In this line, White immediately gains spatial control by advancing the e-pawn to e5, pushing Black's central pawn and restricting Black's light-squared bishop.
Characteristic of this move: The move 4. c3 supports White's strong pawn center, particularly the d4 pawn, preparing to solidify control over the center and limit Black's counterplay on d4. It also prepares for a potential d4-d5 push or supports a later development of the queen's bishop.
Attacking or Defensive: From White's perspective, this is an attacking setup aimed at gaining space and cramping Black’s position. Black, on the other hand, plays more counterattacking moves, striking at White’s center with ...c5 and preparing to undermine White’s advanced pawns.
Control of the Center: Yes, this opening strongly focuses on controlling the center. White occupies and holds key central squares with pawns on d4 and e5, while Black challenges this center dynamically with pawn breaks like ...c5 and ...f6.
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 108 - Move #6 black
You can also discover how top players used French Defense: Advance Variation to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.