French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4
7. Qg4+0.64
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line (C17), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Qg4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.64).
Top engine moves
- +0.647. Qg4 Kf8 8. Qxd4 Bb6 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Nf3 Bc7 11. Qe2 a6
- +0.477. Nb5 Bc7 8. f4 Bd7 9. Nxc7+ Qxc7 10. Bb2 Ne7 11. Nf3 Ba4
- +0.387. bxa5 dxc3 8. Qg4 Kf8 9. Qb4+ Ne7 10. Qxc3 Nbc6 11. Bd2 b6
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Qg4 for White, continuing Kf8 8. Qxd4 Bb6 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Nf3 Bc7 11. Qe2 a6. White is slightly better (+0.64). The next best moves are 7. Nb5 (+0.47) and 7. bxa5 (+0.38).
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.64: 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, Armenian Line?
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+).