ECO C15 · French Defense

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Winckelmann-Reimer Gambit

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 dxe4 6. f3

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

6… c5−0.71

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Winckelmann-Reimer Gambit (C15), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 dxe4 6. f3, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… c5 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.71).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.716… c5 7. Nh3 cxd4 8. fxe4 dxc3 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Ng5 Ke8 11. a4
  2. −0.406… b6 7. Nh3 Bb7 8. Bb5+ Nd7 9. fxe4 Bxe4 10. O-O Nf6 11. Nf2
  3. −0.376… Nc6 7. Qe2 f5 8. fxe4 Qh4+ 9. g3 Qxe4 10. Qxe4 fxe4 11. Bg2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Winckelmann-Reimer Gambit?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 dxe4 6. f3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… c5 for Black, continuing 7. Nh3 cxd4 8. fxe4 dxc3 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Ng5 Ke8 11. a4. Black is slightly better (−0.71). The next best moves are 6… b6 (−0.40) and 6… Nc6 (−0.37).
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Winckelmann-Reimer Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.71: black 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, Winckelmann-Reimer Gambit?
C15. 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+).