ECO C19 · French Defense

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, Smyslov Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. a4

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

7… Nbc6+0.36

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, Smyslov Variation (C19), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. a4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Nbc6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.36).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.367… Nbc6 8. h4 Qa5 9. Bd2 Bd7 10. Nf3 h6 11. Qc1 c4 12. h5
  2. +0.517… Qa5 8. Bd2 Qc7 9. h4 Nbc6 10. Nf3 O-O 11. Bd3 f6 12. exf6
  3. +0.557… Qc7 8. Nf3 h6 9. h4 Nbc6 10. Bb5 a6 11. Bd3 cxd4 12. cxd4

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. a4 Qc7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, Smyslov Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. a4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Nbc6 for Black, continuing 8. h4 Qa5 9. Bd2 Bd7 10. Nf3 h6 11. Qc1 c4 12. h5. White is slightly better (+0.36). The next best moves are 7… Qa5 (+0.51) and 7… Qc7 (+0.55).
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, Smyslov Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.36: 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, Smyslov Variation?
C19. 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+).