The Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack 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, reaching the position shown below after 9 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4 and e5, Black on d5), and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is Black to move after five moves.
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.
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The Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3. It is a variation of the French Defense and is catalogued as ECO C02.
The Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack 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 at +0.33 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, 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 d4 and e5, Black on d5), and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is Black to move.