Game 3 - French Defense - Advance Variation 6. a3,

Here is an interesting 15'+10" game that i played today here on Chess.com. I'm Black and as i always do also OTB i play the French Defense. White chooses the Advance Variation with the interesting line 6. a3, followed by the rare 7. Be3,

Yes, 0-0-0 is clearly bad.  With your having played a6, and white having a3 in already, its just way to easy for white to make progress.  Nf7 would likely be a ton better.  

White deviates first from sound play with 7. be3.  Only played once in the database at http://www.365chess.com/opening.php?m=13&n=4461&ms=e4.e6.d4.d5.e5.c5.c3.Nc6.Nf3.Bd7.a3.f6&ns=3.16.12.17.453.525.454.526.711.1250.1178.4461.  I think the expert who won that game as black had the right idea w/ p(f) x p.  Alternatively, c4 is played by black a lot at move 6 (instead of f6) and can only be stronger after white has committed the bishop to be3.  Taking with the cpawn instead seems inferior because it helps white's congestion and might result in be3 actually being a useful developing move (whereas its clearly not after after c4).  

hiloy

Thank you guys for your analysis.

Everything is as you said; I also found a line that i saved on my notebook.

7. .., fxe5; is the way to go

the move c4 seems good even when Black doesn't plan to castle queenside. I must add that it seems almost always better to castle kingside!

Let's consider another line. White recaptures in e5 with the d pawn.

You are right! Na5 open the line fro the Queen to the unprotected c3 pawn. 13. .., Na5; if 14. Nxa5, Qxc3+; White must play 15. Nd2, Qxa5; (-1.30)