French defense: Advance variation: Cc-exchange
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May 9, 2017
0
#3
Stay138 wrote:
Is it a good idea for black to close the centre by 4..c4?
Interesting pseudo-symmetrical idea but it would be an inaccuracy! 
May 10, 2017
0
#4
jengaias: Ah yeah, right, thanks for your post. 
Indeed, 4...c4?! is also an inaccuracy. White will explode this long staircase center by 5. b3! 
Modest comment:
4...cxd4 is far from being the mainline. From old memories of a GM Williams' video course on the French advance, as a rule of thumb Black may not want to play 4...cxd4 before White's b1-Knight has moved (usually Na3 with the idea Na3-c2 overprotecting d4). Otherwise it offers White the development extra-option Nc3 (after ...cxd4 cxd4).
Plus, you would be rather happy to let your opponent the option of weakening his pawn-chain by playing dxc4 himself (/herself), White's e5 becoming a target then (just ...f6 or ...Ne7-g6/...Nb8-c6/...Qc7).
Stay138 a écrit :
Is it a good idea for black to close the centre by 4..c4?
In some variations Black plays ...c4, but (as far as I know) after White played a3 leaving the b3-square unprotected.
The idea is then to make use of the latter (for instance after ...Nc6-a5 followed in some cases ...Nb3 where the square is used as an outpost, usually when there is no counterpart knight on d2).
I'm far from being an expert of this variation, I just know it exists. Hence the rough introduction.
May 10, 2017
0
#7
...c4 in the French Advance tends to only be good when white has played a3. That's because b3 is no longer that effective, as white will be leaving a hole on c4, and can't recapture with the a-pawn.
May 10, 2017
0
#8
In response to many of the posts in this thread, including the original post, 4...cxd4 and 4...c4 should BOTH BE AVOIDED!
...c4, relieving the tension, should not be played in the Advance French unless White has played a3, weakening b3, but then you must avoid b3 by White at all cost unless you can gain some other benefit tactically, like maybe you win the c3-pawn.
An example where ...c4 is played is in the line 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3 c4. Black also has other options, like 6...Bd7, 6...Nge7, or some have tried 6...a5, but with no ...a6 available, White gets an improved version of the Milner-Barry Gambit with 7.Bd3!
Trading on d4 too early is bad. All you do is make the development for White simple by giving him the c3 square for his Knight. Black usually waits to trade on d4 until White has moved his Knight to a3 or d2, or else has shown his hand, and in certain lines, it's ok to take even with the Knight still on b1. For example, the line 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.Be2 and only now 6...cxd4. This line is known to be extremely drawish and Black has already equalized. This is why 6.a3 is now more popular against 5...Qb6, and 6.Be2 is more common against 5...Bd7.
May 10, 2017
0
#9
Trading on d4 is only effective when white has moved the knight, or it is necessary to do so in order to play ...Nf5 without getting kicked out with g4.
Playing c5-c4 even when white has pawn on a3 is still questionable; if black is going to make 0-0-0 then this might be ok, but queen on b6 becomes somehow misplaced, and there is no way to deal with Bc8 problem. so the point is to keep c4 free to organize counterplay on c file by Rc8, Bd7, Nc6-a5 for example.
Also, there is no need for black to play Nb8-c6, but after Qd8-b6 black might go for Bc8-d7-b5 exchanging his worst piece immediatelly, ok there is some loss of time, but still playable. all of these are not possible if pawn is moved to c4.
cxd4 is not recomended but might be seen in practice, black has no pressure on d4, white has no problem with Nb1, but still black may organize his game quickly by moving his pieces towards c file and c4 square and if f7-f6 is played at good moment, there will be something likely tarrasch line where black still has things to do.
yes, based on fact black king is safe and far away from happenings, white must play on kingside and this may not be good always, but was there better place for white f1 bishop, by g2-g3 and Bf1-h3, and if
white manages to control c2 i do not se what black bishop can do from a4 square
but lets consider black "safe king" on queenside, then think this break is good for white;
and black is forced out from his good blocked position. ok black can maintain extra pawn playing Bd7-a4 but now two black important pieces are on edge of board. ok this position can not be finally determined either for one or the other side, but point that white does not allow black above mentioned setup.
May 10, 2017
0
#12
ChessBooster wrote:
Playing c5-c4 even when white has pawn on a3 is still questionable; if black is going to make 0-0-0 then this might be ok, but queen on b6 becomes somehow misplaced, and there is no way to deal with Bc8 problem. so the point is to keep c4 free to organize counterplay on c file by Rc8, Bd7, Nc6-a5 for example.
Also, there is no need for black to play Nb8-c6, but after Qd8-b6 black might go for Bc8-d7-b5 exchanging his worst piece immediatelly, ok there is some loss of time, but still playable. all of these are not possible if pawn is moved to c4.
cxd4 is not recomended but might be seen in practice, black has no pressure on d4, white has no problem with Nb1, but still black may organize his game quickly by moving his pieces towards c file and c4 square and if f7-f6 is played at good moment, there will be something likely tarrasch line where black still has things to do.
You do realize the main line for black in the Advance French is ...c4 right after white's 6.a3?
May 10, 2017
0
#13
In the above example you give, white just drops a pawn without enough compensation.
yes pawn is dropped but where it may go? it will be taken sooner or later, or maybe black would keep his B and N on the margins for rest of game. OK no compensation, but does white really need immediate compensation, it s only a pawn, but forces black to 0-0 and provide white with standard setups with Bd3...
i want to point, white does not need to go to blocked position at all.
That's one of my old games of the day
:
https://www.chess.com/games/view/6
5...Nc6 and 5...Ne7 are the best moves here. 5. Bb4+, played by NN, is suboptimal.