French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
152,363 games: White 48.1% / Draw 5.0% / Black 46.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 68,60369K | ||
| 29,34629K | ||
| 19,86220K | ||
| 15,62916K | ||
| 7,5117,511 | ||
| 4,7024,702 | ||
| 2,7932,793 | ||
| 2,4022,402 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 27, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.50 White is slightly better
Best play: 6. b4 cxd4 7. Qg4 Kf8 8. Nb5 Bb6 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. Bb2 f6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation (ECO C17, 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 Ba5 (5 moves).
In 152,363 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.1%, Black 46.9% and 5.0% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. b4, in 45% of those games.
It continues into one named variation, French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation
The most played answer, 6. b4, also scores best for White: 52.4%, with White winning 49.7% and Black 44.9% of 69K games. Of the main answers, 6. Nf3 scores lowest: 47.4%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6. b4.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Variations (1)
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation (C17)”. Lichess data as of 27 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-winawer-variation-retreat-variation