In this part, we move on to the French Defense Advance Variation.
Pyramid entrance to the Musée du Louvre in Paris. Photo: Andre Harding
Unlike in Parts 2a and 2b, White immediately plays e4-e5 before developing his knight from b1. Play is very straightforward.
Once again, black’s main source of counterplay is an attack on white’s d4-square. The second player starts with the pawn advance …c7-c5 and then involves both knights, and the queen — at least. White has to be careful to keep his center intact, but if he does there are good attacking chances to be had.
Advance Variation: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5
Will white’s extended pawns become a strength or a weakness? Overall the chances are balanced, but of course anything can happen in an individual game.
White’s bind in the Advance proves too strong
This classic game is too striking to not show for those who haven’t seen it, even if Nimzo’s concept is not completely sound:
Black’s counterplay in the Advance is a force to be reckoned with
Ehlvest was ranked World #5 back in January 1991 but gets shredded here.
That concludes our coverage of the French Defense Advance Variation. Next time we continue with Part 3, the Exchange Variation. Stay tuned!