Chess Codex
Tree path 12 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 › Paoli Variation
  1. Chess Codex
  2. French Defense C00
  3. Normal Variation C00
  4. French Defense C00
  5. Paulsen Variation C10
  6. French Defense: Winawer Variation C15
  7. Advance Variation C16
  8. French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation C17
  9. French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation C17
  10. French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation C18
  11. French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation C18
  12. French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation C18
  13. Paoli Variation C18 you are here
C18

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

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Overview

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Paoli Variation is a specific line in the Open Games family (ECO C18), arising from a recognised theoretical position.

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 19 plies — specifically the moves 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.

The line refines French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, which traces back to the root opening French Defense.

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ECO code
C18
Group
Open Games (C)
Plies
19
Parent
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn 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

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

MovesGamesW / D / B
dxc32,222
Nbc61,787
Qxc31,559
Qxe5976
Bd795
Nd770
d35
b63

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:22:31

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Related variations at the same level

Sister lines that share the same parent French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation:

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