The French Defence: Essentials (White Repertoire)

By Theo van Stratum

A White repertoire against the French Defence, built around the Advance Variation (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5). Covers the structures a student needs to actually understand the system: the main line vs ...Nc6 and ...Qb6, the delayed move-order with 3...Nc6 and the resulting ...Bb4+ check, the early ...cxd4 trade (and the pin trick that follows if Black strikes before developing), and the real, named Milner-Barry Gambit as a sharp alternative to the quiet main lines. Every line and sideline stays within White's first 10 moves.