ECO C18 · French Defense

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7

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

8. Qxg7+0.60

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation (C18), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. Qxg7 for White. White is slightly better (+0.60).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.608. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Rb1 Nbc6 11. f4 dxc3 12. h4 Bd7
  2. +0.578. Rb1 cxd4 9. Qxg7 Rg8 10. Qxh7 Qxe5+ 11. Ne2 dxc3 12. Bf4 Qf6
  3. +0.458. Bd3 cxd4 9. Ne2 dxc3 10. Qxg7 Rg8 11. Qxh7 Qxe5 12. Bf4 Qf6

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 cxd4 8. Qxg7
  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 cxd4 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 Nbc6

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. Qxg7 for White, continuing Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Rb1 Nbc6 11. f4 dxc3 12. h4 Bd7. White is slightly better (+0.60). The next best moves are 8. Rb1 (+0.57) and 8. Bd3 (+0.45).
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.60: 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, Poisoned Pawn 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+).