Chess Codex
Tree path 10 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, Positional 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, Positional Variation C19 you are here
C19

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional Variation

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Overview

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Positional Variation is a specific line in the Open Games family (ECO C19), 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 14 plies — specifically the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Nc6 7. Nf3 Nge7.

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

Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.

ECO code
C19
Group
Open Games (C)
Plies
14
Parent
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance 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

62,756 games · White 49.3% / Draw 5.4% / Black 45.3%

MovesGamesW / D / B
Bd321,676
a412,650
Be28,713
Bb57,691
h42,906
Be32,608
Bg52,306
dxc51,639

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:57:01

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Related variations at the same level

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

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