Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nc3/3...Bb4/4. e5/4...c5/5. a3/5...Bxc3/6. bxc3

Winawer variation C17-C19 Winawer variation 6. bxc3 This is the main line of the Winawer variation of the French defence. The Winawer is a sharp and tactical variation of the French. White usually attempts to take the undefended g-pawn with Qg4. Black's best move is /6...Ne7/, developing the knight such that it defends g8 and can possibly reroute to f5, where it pressures White's centre. /6...Qc7/, the Classical variation, backs the c-pawn and develops the queen to a good square. /6...Qa5/ enters the Portisch-Hook variation where Black tries to provoke some more queenside weaknesses early on. /6...Nc6/ is the rarest of the variations. Black allows 7. Qg4 and has to defend their queenside with 7...g6, leading to some very weak dark squares around their kingside.Rarer variations in the Winawer https://www.chesspublishing.com/content/2/sep20.htm www.chesspublishing.com John Watson 13 February 2026 Theory table Main line 6. ... Ne7 7. Qg4 Qc7 + Classical variation 6. ... Qc7 7. Qg4 f5 Portisch-Hook variation 6. ... Qa5 7. Bd2 Qa4 6. ... Nc6 7. Qg4 g6 + References See also French Defence