Chess lessons › Chess openings
The Advance French
Play the Advance French for both sides: the main line with a3, the Milner-Barry Gambit and its trap.
The idea
White gains space with e5, and Black attacks the chain at d4.
- The pawn on c5 and the knight on c6 both hit d4.
- The pawn on e5 gives White space on the kingside.
- a3 prepares b4 and keeps Black’s pieces off b4.
In a game: In the Milner-Barry, if Black grabs d4 too soon, a bishop check on b5 uncovers the queen on d1.
How the lesson begins
In the French Defence lesson you met the Advance Variation: 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6, and now the pawn on c5 and the knight on c6 attack d4. The queen on b6 stands behind the pawn on c5 and also hits b2. Here White has three main plans.
6.a3 prepares b4. 6.Be2 calmly prepares castling. 6.Bd3 is a gambit, where White lets the pawn on d4 go. Among players rated 1200 to 1599, White scores 48% after 3.e5.
- 3... c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6
Find the move
White to move. Find the engine’s choice: a quiet pawn move that prepares b4 and keeps Black’s pieces off b4.
A hint
Use the rook’s pawn.
Show the answer
6. a3
6.a3 is best. Lichess calls it the Main Line. White wants b4 to gain space on the queenside. Black’s best answers include 6...c4, 6...a5 and 6...Bd7.
In numbers
How often it is played
| Rating | Value |
|---|---|
| Under 800 | Too few games |
| 800 to 1199 | 8 |
| 1200 to 1599 | 11 |
| 1600 to 1999 | 10 |
| 2000 and up | 10 |
How the games ended
White won 47%, 4% were drawn and Black won 49%, over 18,729 games that start this way, in a sample of rated Lichess games from 2026.