C02 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack
9/9
1.e4e62.d4d53.e5c54.c3Nc65.Nf3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack10.1M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
48%4.9M52%
12%1.2M49%
11%1.1M53%
1.9%190k49%
1.5%155k50%
1.1%107k53%
0.9%91k47%
0.8%83k54%
0.7%67k46%
Famous games in this line11k master games
Giri, A. (2760) – Carlsen, M. (2864)Caruana, F.. (2820) – Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2792)Caruana, F.. (2820) – Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2792)Caruana, F.. (2820) – Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2792)Topalov, V. (2760) – Caruana, F. (2823)Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2788) – Caruana, F. (2795)Grischuk, A. (2792) – Caruana, F. (2791)Grischuk, A. (2750) – Carlsen, M. (2832)Heroes of this opening Caruana, F.. · Carlsen, M. · Vachier Lagrave, Maxime
- Family
- French Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- C02
- Line
- 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3
Aggressive
★ Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe VariationC02 5…Bd7French Defense: Advance Variation, Main LineC02 5…Qb6 6.a3 · 1 deeper lineFrench Defense: Advance Variation, Milner-Barry GambitC02 5…Qb6 6.Bd3 · 3 deeper linesFrench Defense: Advance Variation, Lputian VariationC02 5…Qb6 6.a3 Nh6
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
In 1834 the city of Paris beat the city of London in a correspondence match opening with 1...e6, and the defense has carried the name ever since. Botvinnik and Korchnoi built careers on its cramped-then-counterpunch character: concede space, then break with ...c5 or ...f6 at the right moment.
Study this opening