French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5
6. b4+0.72
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation (C17), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. b4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.72).
Top engine moves
- +0.726. b4 cxd4 7. Qg4 Kf8 8. Nb5 Bb6 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. Bb2 Nge7
- +0.456. Qg4 Ne7 7. dxc5 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Ng6 9. Nf3 Nd7 10. h4 h5
- +0.356. Nf3 Ne7 7. dxc5 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nd7 9. Bd3 Nxc5 10. a4 b6
Variations
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. b4 for White, continuing cxd4 7. Qg4 Kf8 8. Nb5 Bb6 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. Bb2 Nge7. White is slightly better (+0.72). The next best moves are 6. Qg4 (+0.45) and 6. Nf3 (+0.35).
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.72: 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, Retreat Variation?
C17. 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+).