Caissa Codex
C18

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation 7…cxd4 8. Qxg7

Chess diagram: French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation after 8. Qxg7

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Statistics from Lichess

19,832 games: White 45.3% / Draw 6.1% / Black 48.6%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
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Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 24, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.68 White is slightly better

Best play: 8... Rg8 9. Qxh7 Qc7 10. Ne2 dxc3 11. h4 Nbc6 12. f4 Bd7 13. h5

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

Overview

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn 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 cxd4 8. Qxg7 (8 moves).

In 19,832 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 45.3%, Black 48.6% and 6.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 8…Rg8, in 99% of those games.

It continues into one named variation.

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Variations (1)

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 7. Qg4 cxd4 8. Qxg7, the position after French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation (C18)”. Lichess data as of 24 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-winawer-variation-poisoned-pawn-variation-2

https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-winawer-variation-poisoned-pawn-variation-2