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French Defense

C02 · French Defense: Advance Variation, Main Line · you play Black

The idea

When White pushes e5, hit the base of the pawn chain at d4 with c5, Nc6 and Qb6.

The moves

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 c4

Drill this line from memory

Free, no sign-up. The board plays the other side and you play every one of your moves. A line you miss comes back tomorrow; one you get comes back after 3 days, then a week, then three weeks.

When they go another way

• If they play 3.exd5: The Exchange is symmetrical: copy the development, castle, and your bishops are as good as White's.

Opening names from the Lichess chess-openings list (CC0). Every line was checked move by move by the rules engine. Part of Chess Path, a free chess course.