French, Advance variation with 5...Nge7

FM mizant
| Dec 22, 2010 at 11:17am
| Posted in: mizant's Blog
| 5877 reads
| 48 comments

I call it "Maxa system" because my first coach, IM Branimir Maksimović (whose nickname is "Maxa"), was - and probably still is - well-known "french", who always played this 5...Nge7 line. I accepted the same concept of repertoire, so french and Nge7, following the advance variation, was my choice then, when I was nine years old, and still is. Let's see how it goes:

5...Nge7 is not the main line. It's not even the second option, according to CB11. More played moves are 5...Bd7, and the main line: 5...Qb6. But 5...Nge7 seems more logical then any other line after 5.Nf3: black is developing another piece, with an idea to establish more pressure on the most vulnerable of white's - pawn d4, via Ne7-f5. Of course, c5 pawn is indirectly protected (after 6. d:c5 Ng6, and one of two pawns - e5 or c5 - is going down).

White has few good options here:

6. Be2?!
6. Bd3
6. Na3
6. a3

Let's see the first one (and less played): 6. Be2

So white was in trouble to defend his d4-pawn, and it's the main reason why white often choose other options, rather then 6. Be2. Let's see what is going on with 6. Bd3.

It seems that trading glorious light-square bishop for knight on f5 is not very well for white, so let's see what is happening when white decide first to defend d4-pawn, and then to form an attack concept. There are two possibilities of that kind: 6. Na3 and 6. a3. First is played in order to defend d4 with knight on c2 (after Na3-c2), and the other one is usually followed by b4, and then bishop goes to b2. First we will check 6. Na3.

At the end, probably the strongest line for white (also most played, according to CB11): 6. a3

This short introduction in a specific line of Advance variation in French defence is aimed to help those who are at intermediate level of understanding chess. I do not recommend closed openings - such French defence is - to beginners, and especially do not recommend it for young players. They should play open positions, with many opportunities for tactical sacrifices.

For those beginners who would like to be familiarised with basics of French defence, I will make another article soon.

PS: Sorry, my english is not so good.

Comments

3 months ago
g-levenfish

Thanks for the advice.I will try yor move next time!
3 months ago
FM mizant

It is playable too, but why to allow 6. Bxh6 (which is not bad for White) if you don't need to? Also, if White plays 6. dxc5 in the line with 5... Nge7, you don't play 6... Nf5, but 6... Ng6, aiming for the e5-pawn. That's one more reason to go for 5... Nge7 instead of 5... Nh6.
3 months ago
g-levenfish

I like to try 5...Nh6? But maybe too risky after 6.Bxh6?
3 months ago
FM mizant

@ Lazaneo

Igrao bih 3. Nd2 kad god bih imao prilike da igram Francusku kao beli. To je najnezgodniji potez za one koji nisu bas sjajni u igranju Francuske kao crni.
3 months ago
Lazaneo87

kakvo imas misljenje o varijanti 3.Sd2
4 months ago
nikolaosstathis

thank you very much for your explanation we are waiting a useful synopsis on 3.NC3 and Nd2 perhaps a common line for us is the RUBINSTEIN variation although too drawish
4 months ago
FM mizant

@ Nikolaosstathis

Thank you for commentating my article.

On going into the Milner-Barry Gambit... Basically, the Knight on e7-square is not so much favorable line there, while the line 5... Nge7 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Nf5 is actually pretty much pleasant for Black.

The other reason (and more important) which makes the move 6... Qb6 dubious, is because White can play 7. dxc5, forcing Black Queen to go further out (making her exposed & misplaced), which is something that Black wants to avoid by capturing either c5-pawn with the f8-Bishop, or by capturing the other - e5-pawn after Black plays Ne7-g6.
4 months ago
nikolaosstathis

excellent article we are waiting more articles about french defence Bd3 after this move Qb6 instead cd5 is playable with the idea of the milner barry gambit/?
11 months ago
mammoth11

Very useful... Thank you
16 months ago
Sivamaha

good
17 months ago
AsynchronA

Thanks a lot for posting this, because this is exactly what i have been looking for...
17 months ago
FM wlrs

Good work mizant. One of the better opening articles I've read on this site. Your English will improve with practice
17 months ago
davidmelbourne

After reflection, I think this is the best article exploring an opening variation I have ever read. Thank you so much!
17 months ago
Prestwich

Very useful and instructive! I look forward to reading more material on the French from youi!

Prestwich (FIDE 2122)
17 months ago
shakespeareanbard

Very interesting, thank you very much. I may try soon in live chess and see how it goes!
17 months ago
FM mizant

I prefer standard too (and also I'd recommend it to those players who consider themselves as beginners), but here on the Internet it's kinda risky, because I think that my opponents can use chess programs. But that's some other theme to discuss.
17 months ago
sunset34

thank you mizant. i dont play blitz very much so thats why i have a reletivly low rating. i perfer standard.
17 months ago
FM mizant

@sunset34,

No, it was classical system, with 3. Nc3 Nf6 (which is not my first choice). You played extremely accurate the whole game (I was wondering how it can be with relatively low rated-player). Great game by you!

@Antelop1,

I will post another article about French defence, and it will be completely for beginners. It will be here soon.

Happy New Year, guys
17 months ago
sunset34

thank you for the article. kind of ironic i have played you twice mizant and in one game i won it was with the french defense advance, and I was white
17 months ago
Antelop1

guys i am still a noob at chess.I selected french as the dfese for e4 abt a month ago can anone give me a website about the main ideas of the french(i kow some lines what i want to know is the ideas behind.) Great article by the way!