ECO C18 · French Defense

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Classical Variation

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

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

7. Qg4+0.57

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Classical Variation (C18), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Qg4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.57).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.577. Qg4 Ne7 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Ne2 Nbc6 11. f4 dxc3
  2. +0.537. a4 Ne7 8. Nf3 h6 9. h4 b6 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bd3 Nbc6
  3. +0.537. Nf3 Ne7 8. a4 h6 9. h4 b6 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bd3 Nbc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Classical Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Qg4 for White, continuing Ne7 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Ne2 Nbc6 11. f4 dxc3. White is slightly better (+0.57). The next best moves are 7. a4 (+0.53) and 7. Nf3 (+0.53).
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Classical Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.57: 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, Classical Variation?
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+).