Chess Openings Lab
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French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe Variation

The Euwe Variation is the Advance French line 3...c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7, where Black develops the bishop before deciding on ...Qb6. White chooses between 6.Be2, 6.a3 and 6.dxc5, while Black plans ...Nge7-f5 and a knight on f5 hitting d4.

Moves
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7
ECO
C02
Engine
+0.28 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
2,749 games in our lichess sample
White scores
47.7%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 6.Be2 with Na3 next is the engine's choice: after ...cxd4 cxd4 the knight reroutes to c2 to guard d4.
  • 6.a3 prepares b4 for queenside space; after Bd3 and ...Nf5, the trade Bxf5 exf5 removes Black's best knight.
  • 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.b4 gains space with tempo on the bishop, and 8.b5 then kicks the c6-knight, though d4 is no longer held.

Black

  • Develop with ...Nge7 and ...Nf5, the best square for the knight, where it hits d4 and guards the kingside.
  • Exchanging with ...cxd4 at the right moment opens the c-file for a rook on c8.
  • Keep ...Qb6 in reserve for a moment when d4 is less well protected.

Plans and pawn structure

The structure is the classic French chain, and every black piece aims at d4: knights on c6 and f5, a rook on c8 and later the queen. White defends with Nf3, Be3 or the Na3-c2 route, then turns to the kingside with castling and sometimes g4 to kick the f5-knight. If White gets b4 in, Black's play against the d4 base fades and White owns queenside space. Black should answer b4 ideas with ...a5 or by taking on d4 first.

Where the engine's main line heads: French chain: d4–e5 against d5–e6. The French chain: White's pawns on d4 and e5 face Black's on d5 and e6. White has kingside space, Black attacks the base of the chain.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.28: level. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.28 6.Be2 Nge7 7.Na3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf5
  2. +0.19 6.a3 Nge7 7.Bd3 Nf5 8.Bxf5 exf5
  3. +0.06 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.b4 Bb6 8.b5 Na5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

2,749 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 47.7%.

under 120048.3%
1200–159946.8%
1600–199945.9%
2000 and up51.0%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

Play 6.Be2 and the Na3-c2 regroup to keep d4 solid. If you prefer space, 6.a3 and b4 are fine, but watch for ...cxd4 and an open c-file. Avoid pushing g4 against the f5-knight before your king is castled, because ...Nh4 or ...Nh6 leaves your kingside loose.

Questions

What are the moves of the French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe Variation?

The French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe Variation starts 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7. Its ECO code is C02.

Is the French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.28 at depth 20, which is level. In 2,749 lichess games from our sample, White scored 47.7%. A flexible, solid choice for French players who prefer piece pressure over sharp queen sorties.

What is the main idea of the French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe Variation?

Black develops the bishop first and keeps ...Qb6 in reserve, aiming the knights at d4 from c6 and f5. White keeps d4 solid with Be2, Na3 and Nc2, or grabs queenside space with a3 and b4.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Be2, with a3 and dxc5 close behind. 6.Be2 prepares castling and keeps the Na3-c2 route ready to support d4.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.