Caissa Codex
C18

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn Variation

Chess diagram: French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn Variation after 7…Kf8

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

24,063 games: White 45.1% / Draw 5.4% / Black 49.4%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
7,1257,125
5,9175,917
3,6153,615
2,2282,228
1,2171,217
1,1351,135
917917
648648

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 2, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.70 White is better

Best play: 8. h4 h5 9. Qd1 Nbc6 10. Rb1 Qa5 11. Bd2 Qc7 12. Nf3 Nf5

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn Variation (ECO C18, Open Games) is a variation of the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Kf8 (7 moves).

In 24,063 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 45.1%, Black 49.4% and 5.4% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. h4, in 30% of those games.

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How to play against the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn Variation

8. Qd1 scores best for White: 55.1%, with White winning 51.5% and Black 41.4% of 1,217 games. The most played answer, 8. h4, scores lowest: 46.9% in 7,125 games. Stockfish's first choice is 8. h4.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 7. Qg4 Kf8, the position after French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “French Defense: Winawer Variation, Eingorn Variation (C18)”. Lichess data as of 2 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-winawer-variation-eingorn-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-winawer-variation-eingorn-variation