For Black· 14 lines

French Defense - 3.e5 - Advance Variation

Let's learn the French Defense! We strike at the center with d5 and e6, building a rock-solid pawn chain that forces White into tough decisions. We begin with pawn to e6.

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Position after 11... Ne7

Main line

The chapter's main line, with the comments from the course.

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5
White builds a solid pawn chain from b2 to e5, cramping our kingside. We'll strike back with queenside pressure and look to trade our awkward light-squared bishop for something useful.
3... c5
Perfect! We hit d4 immediately and create great tension in the center.
4. c3
White's best move, building that rock-solid pawn chain. Our counterplay comes on the queenside where our pawns point.
4... Nc6
More pressure on d4 as we bring up reinforcements.
5. Nf3
White develops naturally, giving d4 another defender.
5... Qb6
We hit d4 and b2 at the same time, making White's bishop development tricky.
6. Bd3
The main line at top level.
6... cxd4
We take on d4 now or White keeps the material with better structure, but only capture ONCE or Bb5+ traps our queen.
7. cxd4 Bd7
The bishop guards the diagonal so now we can safely capture twice on d4, Bb5+ doesn't work anymore.
8. O-O Nxd4 9. Nxd4
White recaptures but this natural move has a flaw that lets us win a clean pawn.
9... Qxd4
We grab the knight and we're up material, theory says White's play isn't enough compensation.
10. Nc3
Almost forced. The knight belongs on c3, White keeps things flexible.
10... a6
This stops Bb5 tricks and sets up Ne7-g6 while keeping all our options open.
11. Qe2
Best square, keeping every option open.
11... Ne7
Flexible development, eyeing both g6 and c6 next, though White can simplify into a safer position for them.

Key lines

The free lines of this chapter, each one trainable move by move.

Main Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bd7 8. O-O Nxd4 9. Nxd4 Qxd4 10. Nc3 a6 11. Qe2 Ne7
4. Nf3
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd7
4. Nf3
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd7
4. Nf3
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 Ne7 8. O-O Ng6
4. Bb5+
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Bb5+ Bd7 5. Bxd7+ Qxd7 6. c3 Nc6 7. Nf3 Nge7
5. Bb5
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Bb5 Qa5 6. Bxc6+ bxc6
5. Be3
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Be3 Nh6 6. Nf3 Nf5 7. Bd3 Nxe3 8. fxe3 Qb6
6. a3
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 Nh6 7. b4 cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5 9. Be3 f6 10. exf6 gxf6 11. Bd3 Nxe3 12. fxe3 Bh6 13. Qe2 O-O
6. a3
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 Nh6 7. b4 cxd4 8. cxd4 Nf5 9. Bb2 Bd7 10. Be2 Be7 11. O-O h5 12. Qd3 g5 13. Rd1 g4 14. Ne1 f6 15. Nc2 O-O
6. Be2
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 Nh6 8. O-O Nf5 9. Nc3 Nfxd4 10. Nxd4 Qxd4 11. Qxd4 Nxd4
6. Be2
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 Nh6 8. Bxh6 Qxb2 9. Nbd2 gxh6 10. O-O Bd7 11. Rb1 Qxa2 12. Rxb7 Rb8 13. Rxb8+ Nxb8 14. Qc1 Bb4
6. b3
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. b3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8. Bd2 Nxd4
6. Qb3
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Qb3 Qxb3 7. axb3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+
8. Bc2
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bd7 8. Bc2 Nb4 9. Nc3 Nxc2+ 10. Qxc2 Qa6

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All chapters of the French Defense

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