French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation

Before the first move

The Winawer Variation is one of the most strategically complex lines in the French Defense. By pinning White's knight, Black creates immediate tension, leading to a battle where White gains space and the bishop pair while Black compromises White's pawn structure and targets the weakened queenside.

1. e4White

White opens with e4, the most popular starting move. It immediately challenges the center and prepares for rapid development, while Black must now decide how to respond to this central pressure.

1... e6Black · your move

Move your pawn to e6. This defines the French Defense, preparing to support a central d5 push while keeping your king's side solid and compact.

Other paths here: f6 (Barnes Defense) · g5 (Borg Defense) · h6 (Carr Defense) · f5 (Duras Gambit)

2. d4White

White plays d4, seizing the full classical center. This is the most principled continuation, though White can also explore the King's Indian Attack with d3 or the Chigorin Variation with Qe2 to avoid the main theoretical lines.

Other paths here: b4 (French Defense: Banzai-Leong Gambit) · Bb5 (French Defense: Bird Invitation) · Qe2 (French Defense: Chigorin Variation) · b3 (French Defense: Horwitz Attack)

2... d5Black · your move

Push your pawn to d5. You are immediately challenging White's e4 pawn and fighting for your share of the central space in typical French fashion.

Other paths here: b5 (French Defense: Baeuerle Gambit) · f5 (French Defense: Franco-Hiva Gambit) · c5 (French Defense: Franco-Sicilian Defense) · Nf6 (French Defense: Mediterranean Defense)

3. Nc3White

White plays Nc3, the most ambitious and testing response to the French. White develops naturally and maintains the central tension. Other options include the Tarrasch Variation with Nd2 or the Advance Variation with e5.

Other paths here: Be3 (French Defense: Alapin Gambit) · c4 (French Defense: Diemer-Duhm Gambit) · Nh3 (French Defense: Morphy Gambit) · Nf3 (French Defense: Perseus Gambit)

3... Bb4Black · your move

Develop your bishop to b4. This move pins the knight to the king, creating immediate tactical problems for White and defining the Winawer Variation.

Other paths here: dxe4 (French Defense: Rubinstein Variation) · Be7 (French: 3.Nc3 Be7) · Nc6 (French Defense: Hecht-Reefschläger Variation) · Nf6 (French Defense: Classical Variation)

4. e5White

White plays e5, the Advance Variation of the Winawer. White gains space and prepares a kingside attack. Other tries like the Alekhine-Maróczy Gambit with Ne2 or the Exchange Variation with exd5 lead to very different pawn structures.

Other paths here: Ne2 (French Defense: Winawer Variation, Alekhine-Maróczy Gambit) · exd5 (French Defense: Winawer Variation, Delayed Exchange Variation) · Bd2 (French Defense: Winawer Variation, Fingerslip Variation) · a3 (French Defense: Winawer Variation, Winckelmann-Riemer Gambit)

4... c5Black · your move

Push your pawn to c5. You must immediately strike at the base of White's pawn chain on d4 to create counterplay and challenge White's spatial advantage.

Other paths here: Qd7 (French Defense: Winawer Variation, Petrosian Variation) · b6 (French: Winawer, 4.e5 b6) · Ne7 (French: Winawer, Advance, 4...Ne7)

5. a3White

White plays a3, forcing the issue. White is willing to accept doubled pawns in exchange for the bishop pair and a solid center. White could also choose the Moscow Variation with Qg4 to attack the kingside immediately.

Other paths here: Qg4 (French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, Moscow Variation) · Bd2 (French Defense: Winawer Variation, Bogoljubow Variation) · dxc5 (French: Winawer, Advance, 5.dxc5)

5... Bxc3+Black · your move

Capture the knight on c3 with your bishop. This trade damages White's pawn structure and removes a key defender of the d4 and e5 squares.

Other paths here: Ba5 (French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation) · cxd4 (French: Winawer, 5.a3 cxd4)

6. bxc3White

White recaptures with bxc3. The stage is set for a long-term struggle where White has space and the bishops, while Black has a better pawn structure and targets White's weak c-pawns.

Where you stand

The position is strategically rich. Black will typically develop with Ne7 and Qc7, aiming to pressure the c3 and d4 pawns. White often plays Qg4 to exploit the absence of the dark-squared bishop, forcing Black to decide between defending g7 or sacrificing it for a counterattack. The battle revolves around White's kingside space versus Black's queenside pressure.

• d8-c7 Develop the queen to pressure c3 and e5
• g8-e7 Bring the knight to e7 to support c5
• d1-g4 Attack the g7 pawn with the queen
• c1-a3 Reposition the bishop to an active diagonal