ECO C16 · French Defense

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Petrosian Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Qd7

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

5. h4+0.93

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Petrosian Variation (C16), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Qd7, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. h4 for White. White is clearly better (+0.93).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.935. h4 c5 6. a3 Ba5 7. Bd2 cxd4 8. Nb5 Bc7 9. f4 a6
  2. +0.895. Qg4 g6 6. Qg3 b6 7. a3 Be7 8. h4 h5 9. Nf3 Ba6
  3. +0.895. Bd2 Bxc3 6. Bxc3 b6 7. Qg4 g6 8. h4 Ba6 9. Bxa6 Nxa6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Petrosian Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Qd7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. h4 for White, continuing c5 6. a3 Ba5 7. Bd2 cxd4 8. Nb5 Bc7 9. f4 a6. White is clearly better (+0.93). The next best moves are 5. Qg4 (+0.89) and 5. Bd2 (+0.89).
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Petrosian Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.93: white is clearly 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, Petrosian Variation?
C16. 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+).