ECO C18 · French Defense

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, with h4

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. h4

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

7… Nbc6+0.47

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, with h4 (C18), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. h4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Nbc6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.47).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.477… Nbc6 8. h5 Qa5 9. Bd2 Bd7 10. Rb1 h6 11. Rxb7 Qxa3 12. Qb1
  2. +0.537… Bd7 8. Qg4 cxd4 9. Qxg7 Rg8 10. Qxh7 Qc7 11. Ne2 Nbc6 12. Rh3
  3. +0.607… Qa5 8. Bd2 cxd4 9. cxd4 Qa4 10. c3 Qxd1+ 11. Kxd1 Bd7 12. h5

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. h4 Qc7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, with h4?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. h4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Nbc6 for Black, continuing 8. h5 Qa5 9. Bd2 Bd7 10. Rb1 h6 11. Rxb7 Qxa3 12. Qb1. White is slightly better (+0.47). The next best moves are 7… Bd7 (+0.53) and 7… Qa5 (+0.60).
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, with h4 a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.47: 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, with h4?
C18. 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+).