Tree path 6 levels French Defense › Normal Variation › French Defense › Paulsen Variation › French Defense: Winawer Variation › Advance Variation
- Chess Codex
- French Defense C00
- Normal Variation C00
- French Defense C00
- Paulsen Variation C10
- French Defense: Winawer Variation C15
- Advance Variation C16 you are here
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation
Overview
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation is a specific line in the Open Games family (ECO C16), arising from a recognised theoretical position.
The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.
The line arises from 7 plies — specifically the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5.
The line refines French Defense: Winawer Variation, which traces back to the root opening French Defense.
The line splits into 3 documented sub-systems: French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, Smyslov Variation, French Defense: Winawer Variation, Petrosian Variation.
Counted recursively, this branch covers 40 sub-variations at all depths.
Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.
- ECO code
- C16
- Group
- Open Games (C)
- Plies
- 7
- Direct variations
- 3
- Total in subtree
- 40
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
2,756,962 games · White 49.1% / Draw 5.1% / Black 45.7%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| c5 | 2,002,518 | |
| Ne7 | 411,178 | |
| Bxc3+ | 98,250 | |
| Qd7 | 77,442 | |
| b6 | 71,909 | |
| Nc6 | 31,599 | |
| f6 | 13,331 | |
| a6 | 9,375 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:37:00
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Variations (3)
Show all 40 sub-variations (full subtree)
- C17 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation 8-ply
- C19 Smyslov Variation 13-ply
- C16 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Petrosian Variation 8-ply
- C17 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation 9-ply
- C17 Moscow Variation 9-ply
- C19 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, Smyslov Variation 14-ply
- C17 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Bogoljubow Variation 9-ply
- C18 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation 11-ply
- C17 Icelandic Defense 11-ply
- C17 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Maróczy-Wallis Variation 12-ply
- C17 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation 10-ply
- C17 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation 13-ply
- C18 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation 12-ply
- C18 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Classical Variation 12-ply
- C18 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Portisch-Hook Variation 12-ply
- C19 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional Variation 14-ply
- C19 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional Variation 16-ply
- C17 Armenian Line 12-ply
- C18 with Bd3 13-ply
- C18 with h4 13-ply
- C18 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn Variation 14-ply
- C18 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation 14-ply
- C18 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation 15-ply
- C19 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional Variation 15-ply
- C19 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional Variation 13-ply
- C18 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Warsaw Variation 14-ply
- C18 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, with Bd3 14-ply
- C18 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, with h4 14-ply
- C18 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation 18-ply
- C18 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation Declined 15-ply
- C18 Main Line 19-ply
- C18 Paoli Variation 19-ply
- C19 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional Variation 15-ply
- C19 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional Variation 17-ply
- C19 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional Variation 17-ply
- C19 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional Variation 14-ply
- C19 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional Variation 18-ply
- C19 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional Variation 18-ply
- C19 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional Variation 18-ply
- C19 French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional Variation 15-ply