Advance Variation (3.e5)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5

Move by move

1. 3.e5 It takes a centre square (e5). It gains space.

Plans for Black

• Develop the bishop to f5 first, then play ...e6: the bishop stays outside the pawn chain.
• Hit White's centre with ...c5, the main pawn break, often with ...Nc6 and ...Qb6 to press on d4 and b2.
• The knights usually go to d7 and e7 (the e7 knight can head for f5 or c6), because ...Nf6 is not possible with a pawn on e5.
• Watch out: White often gains space with g4 and h4 to chase the f5 bishop: keep a safe square ready for it.

If you play 3...c5

3...c5

• 3...c5 hits White's centre at once, before the bishop comes out: a sharp alternative to 3...Bf5.
• If White takes on c5, Black usually plays ...e6 or ...Nc6 and wins the pawn back with ...Bxc5; against 4.c3 or 4.Nf3, Black develops with ...Nc6 and brings the c8 bishop to g4 or f5 while the centre stays tense.
• Watch out: With the pawns locked on d5 and e5 the position is close to a French Advance: White's extra space on the kingside can become an attack, so get your king to safety in time.

Main line (3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4

Move by move

1. 3.Nc3 It develops the knight into the game. It controls the centre (e4, d5).
2. 3...dxe4 It captures the pawn on e4. It takes a centre square (e4). It gains space.
3. 4.Nxe4 It captures the pawn on e4. It takes a centre square (e4).

If you play 4...Bf5 (Classical)

4...Bf5

• 4...Bf5 develops the bishop with tempo, attacking the knight on e4.
• White often pushes h4-h5 to gain space and push the bishop back; Black keeps the bishop on the h7-b1 diagonal and plays ...e6, ...Nd7, ...Ngf6 and ...Bd6 or ...Be7.
• White often castles queenside. Black's typical pawn break is ...c5 against d4, and with no weak pawns, trades usually help Black.

If you play 4...Nd7 (Karpov)

4...Nd7

• 4...Nd7 prepares ...Ngf6, so Black can take back on f6 with a knight and keep the pawns healthy.
• Black develops quietly: ...Ngf6, ...e6, ...Bd6 or ...Be7, castles kingside, then frees the position with ...c5 or ...e5.
• Watch out: A famous trap: after 5.Ng5 Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3, the natural 7...h6? runs into 8.Nxe6!, as in Deep Blue vs Kasparov, 1997. Play 7...Bd6 first.

Main line (3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4

Move by move

1. 3.Nd2 It develops the knight into the game. It controls the centre (e4).
2. 3...dxe4 It captures the pawn on e4. It takes a centre square (e4). It gains space.
3. 4.Nxe4 It captures the pawn on e4. It takes a centre square (e4).

If you play 4...Bf5 (Classical)

4...Bf5

• 4...Bf5 develops the bishop with tempo, attacking the knight on e4.
• White often pushes h4-h5 to gain space and push the bishop back; Black keeps the bishop on the h7-b1 diagonal and plays ...e6, ...Nd7, ...Ngf6 and ...Bd6 or ...Be7.
• White often castles queenside. Black's typical pawn break is ...c5 against d4, and with no weak pawns, trades usually help Black.

If you play 4...Nd7 (Karpov)

4...Nd7

• 4...Nd7 prepares ...Ngf6, so Black can take back on f6 with a knight and keep the pawns healthy.
• Black develops quietly: ...Ngf6, ...e6, ...Bd6 or ...Be7, castles kingside, then frees the position with ...c5 or ...e5.
• Watch out: A famous trap: after 5.Ng5 Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3, the natural 7...h6? runs into 8.Nxe6!, as in Deep Blue vs Kasparov, 1997. Play 7...Bd6 first.

Exchange Variation (4.Bd3)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3

Move by move

1. 3.exd5 It captures the pawn on d5. It takes a centre square (d5). It gains space. It challenges the opponent's pawns.
2. 3...cxd5 It captures the pawn on d5. It takes a centre square (d5).
3. 4.Bd3 It develops the bishop into the game. It controls the centre (e4).

Plans for Black

• The pawns form a Carlsbad structure with colours reversed, so Black's typical plan is the minority attack: ...b5-b4 to leave White a weak pawn on c3.
• Develop with ...Nc6, ...Nf6, ...Bg4 (pinning the knight on f3) and ...e6.
• Watch out: White often aims at Black's king with Bf4, Qc2 or Qb3 and a knight on e5: keep the h7 square and the b7 pawn covered.

Panov Attack (4.c4)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4

Move by move

1. 3.exd5 It captures the pawn on d5. It takes a centre square (d5). It gains space. It challenges the opponent's pawns.
2. 3...cxd5 It captures the pawn on d5. It takes a centre square (d5).
3. 4.c4 It controls the centre (d5). It opens a line for the queen on d1. It challenges the opponent's pawns.

Plans for Black

• The Panov often gives White an isolated queen's pawn (IQP) on d4.
• Black's plan: block the pawn with a knight on d5, trade pieces, and win the weak pawn later. Endgames are usually good for Black.
• Watch out: White's chances are active pieces, a kingside attack and the d4-d5 break: don't let White open the centre while your king is still in the middle.

Fantasy Variation (3.f3)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3

Move by move

1. 3.f3 It controls the centre (e4).

Plans for Black

• 3.f3 holds the centre with pawns. If Black takes on e4 and White takes back with the f-pawn, White gets open lines but a looser king.
• Solid answers are 3...e6 (then ...c5, or ...Nd7 and ...Bb4) and 3...dxe4 4.fxe4 e5, hitting the centre at once.
• Watch out: White often plays Be3, Qd2 and castles queenside, then storms the kingside with pawns.

Other replies

• Other moves: follow the Caro-Kann ideas: a solid centre with ...c6 and ...d5, the light-squared bishop out before ...e6, and ...c5 or ...e5 as the pawn breaks.

How each line scores

The score counts a win as 1 and a draw as ½, from Black's side, in games between strong players.