French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 Qc7

ECO C18

The French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation is a chess opening line in the French Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 Qc7.

It is catalogued under code C18 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Qc7 is chosen by Black on move 7.

2 named continuations branch from this position, including the Main Line and the Paoli Variation.

Named variations

• French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Main Line — ECO C18
• French Defense: Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Paoli Variation — ECO C18

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Beat the French with 3.Nc3 course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.