French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack: what should Black play?

In the French Defense: Advance Variation, Paulsen Attack (ECO C02), Black faces an immediate choice regarding how to maintain pressure against White's pawn chain centered on d4 and e5. The engine's preferred continuation is Bd7, evaluated at +0.20, which develops the light-squared bishop and prepares harmonious piece coordination. Alternatively, the traditional and most frequent choice is Qb6, appearing in 60.5% of the 14,021,005 recorded games to intensify direct pressure against the d4 point.

The strategic role of Bd7

Selecting Bd7 accounts for 22.7% of games (3.19 million recorded) and yields a White scoring rate of 47.2%. Developing the piece to d7 clears the back rank and enables the king's knight to route smoothly to e7 without impeding the queen's view. An illustrative engine continuation runs Bd7 Be2 Nge7 O-O Ng6 Be3, where Black establishes flexible piece placement against White's central wedge.

Direct pressure via Qb6

By far the most established move in human play is Qb6, chosen in 8.49 million games. Holding an engine evaluation of +0.29, it brings an immediate third attacker to bear on d4 while hitting the undefended b2 square. In the sample continuation Qb6 a3 c4 Nbd2 Na5 h4, White scores 47.9% as play shifts toward maneuvering along the flanks.

Additional development paths

Other continuations include Nge7, seen in 13.6% of games (1.90 million recorded) with a +0.39 evaluation and a 47.7% White score, often transposing after Nge7 Na3 cxd4 cxd4 Qb6 Nc2. Rarer deviations include a6 (2.4% of games, evaluated at +0.36) and Qc7 (0.8% of games, evaluated at +0.33), both aiming to defer central tension while retaining piece flexibility.