The Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit is a variation of the French Defense, catalogued as ECO C02. The line runs 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Qg4 cxd4 5. Nf3, reaching the position shown below after 9 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e5, Black on d4 and d5). Development is level at one minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move after five moves. Black has doubled pawns on the d-file.
On the French Defense generally: A solid defense where Black builds a strong pawn chain. Leads to strategic middlegames with clear plans.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 115 French Defense variations →
The Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Qg4 cxd4 5. Nf3. It is a variation of the French Defense and is catalogued as ECO C02.
The Advance Variation, Nimzowitsch Gambit 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. Qg4 cxd4 5. Nf3 at -0.41 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for Black, within normal opening margins. 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 d4 and d5). Development is level at one minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move. Black has doubled pawns on the d-file.