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French Defense

Winawer Variation, Classical Variation

C18tacticalaggressive

  1. 1.e4e6
  2. 2.d4d5
  3. 3.Nc3Bb4
  4. 4.e5c5
  5. 5.a3Bxc3+
  6. 6.bxc3Qc7
1,409 games47%49%

A Winawer French line where Black plays 6...Qc7, eyeing the c-file and g7 defense before developing the kingside; White usually answers 7. Qg4.

Train it in Theoria

About the Classical Variation

The Classical Variation chooses 6...Qc7 over the more common 6...Ne7. The queen supports a later ...cxd4 down the c-file, and from c7 it can watch the g-pawn once the f-pawn moves, but the kingside pieces stay undeveloped for a time. The main reply, 7. Qg4, hits g7; Black answers with 7...f6 or 7...f5, or transposes to the Poisoned Pawn with 7...Ne7. 7. Nf3 is the positional option, where White often pushes the h-pawn while Black seeks ...b6 and ...Ba6 to exchange the light-squared bishops. The engine gives White a slight edge.

Popular continuations