ECO C18 · French Defense

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation Declined

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7 8. Bd3

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

8… cxd4+0.46

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation Declined (C18), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7 8. Bd3, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… cxd4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.46).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.468… cxd4 9. Ne2 dxc3 10. Qxg7 Rg8 11. Qxh7 Qxe5 12. Bf4 Qf6 13. h4
  2. +0.518… c4 9. Be2 Qa5 10. Bd2 Rg8 11. a4 Nbc6 12. Qf4 Bd7 13. h4
  3. +0.538… Qa5 9. Bd2 c4 10. Be2 Rg8 11. a4 Qb6 12. Nf3 Qb2 13. O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation Declined?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7 8. Bd3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… cxd4 for Black, continuing 9. Ne2 dxc3 10. Qxg7 Rg8 11. Qxh7 Qxe5 12. Bf4 Qf6 13. h4. White is slightly better (+0.46). The next best moves are 8… c4 (+0.51) and 8… Qa5 (+0.53).
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation Declined a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.46: 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 Declined?
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+).