ECO C15 · French Defense

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Fingerslip Variation, Main Line

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 dxe4 5. Qg4 Nf6 6. Qxg7 Rg8 7. Qh6

abcdefgh87654321
Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

7… Qxd4−0.11

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Fingerslip Variation, Main Line (C15), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 dxe4 5. Qg4 Nf6 6. Qxg7 Rg8 7. Qh6, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Qxd4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.11).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.117… Qxd4 8. Nge2 Qe5 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. Kb1 Ng4 11. Qxh7 Ndf6 12. Qh4
  2. 0.007… Nc6 8. O-O-O Rg6 9. Qh4 Rg4 10. Qh3 Rg6
  3. +0.277… b6 8. O-O-O Bb7 9. f3 Nc6 10. Nge2 exf3 11. gxf3 Qe7 12. Bg5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Fingerslip Variation, Main Line?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 dxe4 5. Qg4 Nf6 6. Qxg7 Rg8 7. Qh6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Qxd4 for Black, continuing 8. Nge2 Qe5 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. Kb1 Ng4 11. Qxh7 Ndf6 12. Qh4. The position is roughly equal (−0.11). The next best moves are 7… Nc6 (0.00) and 7… b6 (+0.27).
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Fingerslip Variation, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.11: the position is roughly equal. 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, Fingerslip Variation, Main Line?
C15. 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+).