Tree path 11 levels French Defense › Normal Variation › French Defense › Paulsen Variation › French Defense: Winawer Variation › Advance Variation › French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation › French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation › French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation › French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation › French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation
- Chess Codex
- French Defense C00
- Normal Variation C00
- French Defense C00
- Paulsen Variation C10
- French Defense: Winawer Variation C15
- Advance Variation C16
- French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation C17
- French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation C17
- French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation C18
- French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation C18
- French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation C18 you are here
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation
Overview
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation is a named branch in the Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO C18.
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 15 plies — specifically the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 cxd4 8. Qxg7.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, part of the broader French Defense system.
It continues primarily into one named line, French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation.
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
- C18
- Group
- Open Games (C)
- Plies
- 15
- Direct variations
- 1
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
19,832 games · White 45.3% / Draw 6.1% / Black 48.6%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Rg8 | 19,720 | |
| Rf8 | 44 | |
| Qc7 | 33 | |
| Ng6 | 22 | |
| Nbc6 | 6 | |
| Kd7 | 3 | |
| Qa5 | 2 | |
| dxc3 | 2 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:05:06
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