Chess Openings Lab
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French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack

The Paulsen Attack is the standard Advance French setup 3...c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3, with White's chain on c3, d4 and e5. Black now chooses a plan, 5...Bd7, 5...Qb6 or 5...Nge7, and White wants to hold d4 while finishing development.

Moves
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3
ECO
C02
Engine
+0.17 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
7,357 games in our lichess sample
White scores
47.7%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Against 5...Bd7, play 6.Be2 and 7.Na3, then recapture on d4 and bring the knight to c2.
  • Against 5...Qb6, 6.a3 prepares b4, while Bd3 instead is the Milner-Barry Gambit.
  • Against 5...Nge7, 6.Na3 and 7.Bg5 hit the e7-knight and keep the c2 route ready.

Black

  • 5...Bd7 is the engine's choice, the Euwe. ...Nge7-f5 and ...cxd4 follow, all aimed at d4.
  • 5...Qb6 hits d4 and b2 at once and leads to the main line after a3 or the Milner-Barry after Bd3.
  • 5...Nge7 heads for f5 quickly; after 7.Bg5 Qa5 8.Bd2, Black breaks the pin and continues with ...Nf5.

Plans and pawn structure

Every black plan in this structure targets d4: knights on c6 and f5, the queen on b6 and a rook on c8. White defends with Be2 or Bd3, Na3-c2 and Be3, then turns to the kingside or gains space with a3 and b4. If d4 falls without compensation, Black is better. If White keeps it, the e5 pawn gives a lasting space edge.

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 +0.17: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.17 5...Bd7 6.Be2 Nge7 7.Na3 cxd4 8.cxd4
  2. +0.29 5...Qb6 6.a3 a5 7.Bd3 Bd7 8.Bc2
  3. +0.36 5...Nge7 6.Na3 Bd7 7.Bg5 Qa5 8.Bd2

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

7,357 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 47.7%.

under 120048.1%
1200–159948.0%
1600–199946.1%
2000 and up51.8%

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

Traps and pitfalls

French Advance Bb5+ trap (White sets it)

In the French Advance, Black wins the d4 pawn with 7...Nxd4 and then the knight with 8...Qxd4. White answers 9.Bb5+, a check that uncovers the queen on d1 against the black queen on d4.

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The French Advance Bb5+ trap explained

Where it goes next

How to play against it

Pick a plan before you get here: ...Bd7 and ...Nge7 for steady pressure, or ...Qb6 if you know both a3 and the Milner-Barry. With ...Qb6 against Bd3, grabbing on d4 twice before ...Bd7 allows Bb5+. Don't rush ...f6 while your d4 pressure is still building.

Questions

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

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

Is the French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.17 at depth 20, which is level. In 7,357 lichess games from our sample, White scored 47.7%. The central crossroads of the Advance French; both sides need to know which plan they want and its traps.

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

White has set up the full pawn chain and knight support for d4. Black picks how to attack it, with ...Bd7 and ...Nge7-f5, or with ...Qb6 and a sharper fight.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Bd7, with Qb6 and Nge7 close behind. 5...Bd7 develops and keeps options open, preparing ...Nge7-f5 and ...cxd4.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.