French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Paoli Variation
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. Kd1
10… dxc3−0.25
The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Paoli 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 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Kd1, Stockfish 18 recommends 10… dxc3 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.25).
Top engine moves
- −0.2510… dxc3 11. Nf3 Bd7 12. Ng5 Rf8 13. Rb1 Bc6 14. Bb5 Qxe5 15. Re1
- −0.1810… Nd7 11. cxd4 Qc3 12. Rb1 Qxd4+ 13. Ke1 Qxe5+ 14. Be3 Nf6 15. Nf3
- −0.1710… Nbc6 11. Nf3 Nxe5 12. Bf4 Qxc3 13. Nxe5 Qxa1+ 14. Bc1 Rf8 15. Bb5+
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Paoli Variation?
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. Kd1, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10… dxc3 for Black, continuing 11. Nf3 Bd7 12. Ng5 Rf8 13. Rb1 Bc6 14. Bb5 Qxe5 15. Re1. The position is roughly equal (−0.25). The next best moves are 10… Nd7 (−0.18) and 10… Nbc6 (−0.17).
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Paoli Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.25: 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, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Paoli 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+).