Tree path 7 levels French Defense › Normal Variation › French Defense › Paulsen Variation › French Defense: Winawer Variation › Delayed Exchange Variation › French Defense: Winawer Variation, Exchange Variation, Canal Attack
C15

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Exchange Variation, Canal Attack

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Overview

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Exchange Variation, Canal Attack 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.

Play reaches this position via 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 Ne7 6. Qh5, after 11 plies of opening development.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from French Defense: Winawer Variation, Delayed Exchange Variation, part of the broader French Defense system.

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
11
Parent
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Delayed Exchange Variation

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

6,525 games · White 53.8% / Draw 6.6% / Black 39.5%

MovesGamesW / D / B
Nbc62,275
g61,134
Be6751
c6437
Nd7386
Bxc3+372
Ng6370
h6308

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:27:39

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