Caissa Codex
C18

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Paoli Variation

Chess diagram: French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Paoli Variation after 10. Kd1

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Statistics from Lichess

6,722 games: White 49.3% / Draw 4.9% / Black 45.8%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
2,2222,222
1,7871,787
1,5591,559
976976
9595
7070
55
33

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

0.00 The position is about equal

Best play: 10... dxc3 11. Nf3 Bd7 12. Ng5 Rf8 13. Qh6 Nf5 14. Qh3 Qxe5 15. Bd3

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, Paoli Variation (ECO C18, Open Games) is a variation of the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Kd1 (10 moves).

In 6,722 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.3%, Black 45.8% and 4.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 10…dxc3, in 33% of those games.

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How to play against the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Paoli Variation

10…Nbc6 scores best for Black: 52.7%, with Black winning 50.3% and White 44.9% of 1,787 games. The most played, 10…dxc3, scores 49.4% in 2,222 games, and 10…Qxc3 scores lowest: 43.5%. Stockfish's first choice is 10…dxc3.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black'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 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Kd1, the position after French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Paoli Variation (C18)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-winawer-variation-poisoned-pawn-variation-paoli-variation

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