Tree path 5 levels French Defense › Normal Variation › French Defense › Paulsen Variation › French Defense: Winawer Variation
- Chess Codex
- French Defense C00
- Normal Variation C00
- French Defense C00
- Paulsen Variation C10
- French Defense: Winawer Variation C15 you are here
French Defense: Winawer Variation
Overview
French Defense: Winawer Variation is a named branch in the Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO C15.
The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.
It is reached after 6 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from French Defense: Paulsen Variation, part of the broader French Defense system.
6 distinct sub-variations branch from this opening; prominent examples include Advance Variation, Alekhine-Maróczy Gambit, Delayed Exchange Variation, and others.
Below the direct variations, the full subtree contains 54 documented sub-variations.
Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.
- ECO code
- C15
- Group
- Open Games (C)
- Plies
- 6
- Direct variations
- 6
- Total in subtree
- 54
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
5,155,476 games · White 49.2% / Draw 5.3% / Black 45.5%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| e5 | 2,751,768 | |
| exd5 | 852,097 | |
| Bd3 | 422,008 | |
| Ne2 | 296,126 | |
| a3 | 288,582 | |
| Bd2 | 256,761 | |
| Qg4 | 131,422 | |
| f3 | 46,261 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:23:00
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Variations (6)
Show all 54 sub-variations (full subtree)
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