ECO C18 · French Defense

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Kf8

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

8. a4+0.64

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn Variation (C18), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Kf8, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. a4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.64).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.648. a4 Qc7 9. Nf3 h5 10. Qf4 cxd4 11. Ra3 Ng6 12. Qg5 Nc6
  2. +0.528. h4 h5 9. Qd1 b6 10. Be2 Qc7 11. Rh3 Nf5 12. Bd3 Ne7
  3. +0.488. Nf3 Qa5 9. Bd2 Qa4 10. Qf4 Qxc2 11. Rc1 Qg6 12. dxc5 Nbc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Kf8, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. a4 for White, continuing Qc7 9. Nf3 h5 10. Qf4 cxd4 11. Ra3 Ng6 12. Qg5 Nc6. White is slightly better (+0.64). The next best moves are 8. h4 (+0.52) and 8. Nf3 (+0.48).
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn 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, Eingorn 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+).