ECO C15 · French Defense

French Defense: Winawer Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4. e5+0.64

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Winawer Variation (C15), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. e5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.64).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.644. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. Rb1 Ne7 8. h4 cxd4
  2. +0.304. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 c6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. O-O O-O 8. h3 Re8
  3. +0.224. Ne2 dxe4 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Nxc3 Nc6 7. d5 exd5 8. Qxd5 Nge7

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Winawer Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. e5 for White, continuing c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. Rb1 Ne7 8. h4 cxd4. White is slightly better (+0.64). The next best moves are 4. exd5 (+0.30) and 4. Ne2 (+0.22).
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.64: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the French Defense: Winawer Variation?
C15. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).