The Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit, Sørensen Variation is a variation of the French Defense, catalogued as ECO C02. The line runs 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bd7 8. O-O Nxd4 9. Ng5, reaching the position shown below after 17 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e5, Black on d5). Development is level at two minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move after nine moves. White has castled while Black’s king is still uncommitted; the c-file file is fully open.
On the French Defense generally: A solid defense where Black builds a strong pawn chain. Leads to strategic middlegames with clear plans.
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The Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit, Sørensen Variation goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bd7 8. O-O Nxd4 9. Ng5. It is a variation of the French Defense and is catalogued as ECO C02.
The Advance Variation, Milner-Barry Gambit, Sørensen Variation is ECO C02. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the French Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bd7 8. O-O Nxd4 9. Ng5 at -0.76 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for Black. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e5, Black on d5). Development is level at two minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move. White has castled while Black’s king is still uncommitted; the c-file file is fully open.