Frequently Asked Questions: french defense advance variation fork

What is the french defense advance variation fork?

It is a fork tactic that arises in the French Defense, Advance Variation, where a knight or pawn attacks two valuable enemy pieces from a key central square.

Which move order leads to this motif?

The usual start is 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5, which defines the Advance Variation and creates the pawn chain that makes fork squares more important.

What squares should I watch for forks in this opening?

The most common fork squares are c6, d5, e5, and sometimes c7 or e6, depending on whether Black or White is the side creating the tactic.

Is the fork usually for White or Black in the Advance French?

Both sides can use it, but Black often gets the more direct fork chances by attacking White’s center and then jumping a knight into an outpost with tempo.