Chess opening · ECO C02
French Defense: Advance Variation
The French Defense: Advance Variation starts 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5. It ranks #67 of the 174 openings on this site by how often rated players on Lichess reach it.
Move by move
- 1. e4White pushes the e-pawn two squares to e4, staking a claim in the center.
- 1... e6Black advances the e-pawn to e6.
- 2. d4White pushes the d-pawn two squares to d4, staking a claim in the center.
- 2... d5Black pushes the d-pawn two squares to d5, staking a claim in the center.
- 3. e5White advances the e-pawn to e5, staking a claim in the center.
What players choose next, by rating
The three most common Black moves from this position in rated Lichess games, grouped by the rating of the player making the move. c5 is the most popular next move in every rating band.
| Rating | Most common | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | c5 33% | Nc6 29% | f6 14% |
| 1200–1399 | c5 53% | Nc6 18% | f6 8% |
| 1400–1599 | c5 75% | Nc6 8% | f6 4% |
| 1600–1799 | c5 87% | Nc6 3% | a6 2% |
| 1800–1999 | c5 95% | Nc6 1% | f5 1% |
| 2000 and up | c5 100% | – | – |
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