French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5

ECO C17

The French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat 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 Ba5.

It is catalogued under code C17 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Ba5 is chosen by Black on move 5.

One named continuation branches from this position: the Armenian Line.

Named variations

• French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line — ECO C17

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.