Advance Variation, Wade Variation

The Wade Variation departs from the usual Advance move order by bringing the queen to b6 at move four, before ...Nc6 has been played. The queen still presses on d4 and eyes b2, but the point of the line is the follow-up 5...Bd7, preparing ...Bb5. That maneuver offers to exchange Black's hemmed-in light-squared bishop, the traditional problem piece of the French, for White's more active counterpart. The pawn structure stays typical of the Advance: White holds space with pawns on d4 and e5, while Black fights against the chain with ...c5 and piece pressure on d4.

White has three main replies. The most frequent is 6. Bd3, which meets the bishop maneuver head-on. 6. Be2 is the second choice, and Black has scored especially well against it in online games. 6. a3 prepares b4 to gain queenside space, as in other Advance lines. The engine gives White a slight edge, but Black's practical results are slightly better overall. The variation sees moderate use, well behind the main lines that begin with 4...Nc6.