ECO C16 · French Defense

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5

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

4… c5+0.53

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation (C16), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… c5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.53).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.534… c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7
  2. +0.554… Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. h4 Bd7 8. Qg4 cxd4 9. Qxg7
  3. +0.844… Bf8 5. a3 c5 6. dxc5 Nc6 7. b4 Nxe5 8. Bb2 Nc6 9. Qd2

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5
  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3
  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3
  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7
  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 cxd4 6. axb4 dxc3 7. Nf3

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… c5 for Black, continuing 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7. White is slightly better (+0.53). The next best moves are 4… Ne7 (+0.55) and 4… Bf8 (+0.84).
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.53: 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, Advance Variation?
C16. 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+).