Chessy
French Defense: Advance Variation, Extended Bishop Swap
After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bd7, White has advanced the centre and both sides must decide how to handle the tension. The engine says this is not a winning refutation for either side, but it does give White a small pull, so Black needs accurate play. In the drill below, you get to practise the exact position that appears most often and learn how to meet White’s natural plans without drifting into a worse game.
Play the French Defense: Advance Variation, Extended Bishop Swap against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill below and practise meeting White’s ideas move by move. Create a free account to track your progress and revisit the position anytime.
Create a free account →What Black is aiming for here
Your first job is simple: do not let White’s space advantage become a free attack. The position is still playable, but White has a small edge, so Black should treat this as a position where precise development matters. The opening is about meeting White’s centre calmly, keeping your pieces active, and making sure you do not waste time. If you understand the position well, you can steer the game into a manageable middlegame instead of letting White dictate the pace.
The engine’s main test for you
The engine’s best move here is Nf3, and the listed continuation is Nf3 c5 c3 Nc6. That tells you what White is usually trying to do: develop smoothly and keep the centre flexible while Black looks for counterplay. In the drill, focus on answering White’s development with the same kind of calm, sensible moves. If you stay active and avoid passive piece placement, you give yourself a real chance to fight back.
What the database says White usually plays
This exact position has been reached in 248,080 games in the Lichess database, so the position is not rare at all. The most common continuation is Nf3 with 125,778 games and White scoring 47.2% there. Other major tries are c3 with 28,722 games and White scoring 48.6%, f4 with 23,859 games and White scoring 45.8%, Nc3 with 19,280 games and White scoring 45.2%, c4 with 13,803 games and White scoring 51.2%, and Bd3 with 10,128 games and White scoring 48.9%. These numbers show that White has several sensible setups, so you should be ready for more than one plan.
The two mistakes to punish
Two moves stand out as known mistakes here. f4 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns; the better move was c3. Nc3 is also an inaccuracy and loses about 0.5 pawns; again, the better move was c3. That is useful practical information: if White rushes forward or develops naturally without the best support, you may get a slightly easier game. Your job is to stay alert and keep the pressure on those loose choices.
Results across 248,080 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 125,778 | 47.2% |
| c3 | 28,722 | 48.6% |
| f4 | 23,859 | 45.8% |
| Nc3 | 19,280 | 45.2% |
| c4 | 13,803 | 51.2% |
| Bd3 | 10,128 | 48.9% |
Frequently asked questions
Is this opening good for Black to learn?
It is playable, but the position after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bd7 gives White a small edge. That means it is a good choice if you like a solid structure and are willing to defend accurately rather than expecting an easy equal game.
What is White usually trying to do here?
White most often plays **Nf3**, and also tries setups with **c3**, **f4**, **Nc3**, **c4**, or **Bd3**. In general, White is using the space advantage to build a steady centre and develop quickly.
What should I focus on as Black in the drill?
Focus on calm development and active piece play. The engine’s main line begins with **Nf3**, so you should be ready to meet White’s most natural move without drifting into a passive position.
Which White moves are the most important to know?
The most-played move is **Nf3**, and the database also shows **c3**, **f4**, **Nc3**, **c4**, and **Bd3**. Among the known mistakes, **f4** and **Nc3** are both inaccurate, with **c3** given as the better move in each case.
How many games feature the French Defense: Advance Variation, Extended Bishop Swap?
Over 248K Lichess games have reached the French Defense: Advance Variation, Extended Bishop Swap position. White wins 47.3%, Black wins 48.9%, with 3.7% draws — based on real rated games.