<cro777: >

The last two volumes of the New In Chess Yearbook have an article on the advance variation of the French.

I have been blunder checking for about two weeks.

<cro777:>

The articles are by Sveshnikov and involve pawn chain theory. He mentions that grandmasters are afraid of computer preparation and often play very safe and head to endings they do not understand.

<cro777: >

I answered you in my forum.

I like the ending I achieved. Perhaps someone a fast computer could analyze it.

<cro777: >

Sveshnikov does not cover meeting 6. Pa3 with Pc4 in the advance French

On my forum I tried a simple piece rearrangement with moderate success.

It would be nice to baptize his baby with a win for white.

Fairly difficult to get a handle on I am not surprised it hasn't been found

<cro777: >

My idea evaluates twice as good.

<cro777: >

I will admit that there was a certain amount of serendipity involved, but I did digest all of Sveshnikov's ideas and gave myself every chance.

The knight sac on g7 busts Akobiam's idea. Rybka walks right into it.

don't worry, the only ideas that matter are should we use free houdini, or plunk down a few bucks and let houdini pro pick all the moves!

Indeed. I must confess this is a no-lose proposition for me. If you're joking, I savour the sardonic irony of your wit.

And if not, I think those are excellent moves. I've even played them from time to time.

I don't care for it. I think there are good reasons why it has never challenged the mainline, or respectable alternatives like the Wade Variation (...Qb6, ...Bd7 and ...Bb5).

I have a few books on the Advance -- Collins, Psakhis, and others. None give it much space. Nor does Watson consider it among the Dangerous Weapons in the French. I can't recall whether the line has appeared in the 'SOS' series: I haven't seen it there.

Here's a rough positional summary.

Black prevents the dangerous enemy LSB from sitting on d3 (at least until White can play b3 and liquidate the c4 pawn). That's something. Black also prepares a large-scale queenside mobilization of his a- and b-pawns, to attack the new base of the pawn chain on b2. This may be combined with familiar kingside maneuvers such as ...f6, ...g5, etc. Or Black may opt to castle long behind the blocked pawn chain, and start active play on the kingside.

The big downside is the loss of the open c-file. Other things being equal (after ...cxd4), Black can hope to win control of the c-file, where his prospects are better than White's. It takes time, and is less effective, to transfer this attack to the b-file.

Meanwhile, White's kingside attack is only briefly put out by losing control of d3. It's not hard to get the LSB onto the b1/h7 diagonal.

Despite some pretty Black wins, my feeling about this line is that Black gives up one of his main routes to equality/advantage, and gains very little for it.