ECO C18 · French Defense

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Main Line

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Ne2

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

10… Nbc6+0.47

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Main Line (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. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Ne2, Stockfish 18 recommends 10… Nbc6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.47).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.4710… Nbc6 11. f4 dxc3 12. Qd3 d4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Bd7 15. Rg1
  2. +0.6010… dxc3 11. h4 Nbc6 12. f4 Bd7 13. Qd3 Nf5 14. h5 O-O-O 15. Qxc3
  3. +1.4110… Qa5 11. h4 Nbc6 12. Rh3 Bd7 13. Bd2 dxc3 14. Rxc3 Qb6 15. Rb3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Main Line?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Ne2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10… Nbc6 for Black, continuing 11. f4 dxc3 12. Qd3 d4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Bd7 15. Rg1. White is slightly better (+0.47). The next best moves are 10… dxc3 (+0.60) and 10… Qa5 (+1.41).
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.47: 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, Main Line?
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+).