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French Defense

Winawer Variation, Maróczy-Wallis Variation

C17tacticaloffbeat

  1. 1.e4e6
  2. 2.d4d5
  3. 3.Nc3Bb4
  4. 4.e5c5
  5. 5.a3cxd4
  6. 6.axb4dxc3
1,499 games49%46%

A Winawer sideline where Black meets 5. a3 with 5...cxd4, giving up the bishop for knight and pawn. Engines favor White, who gets the bishop pair.

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About the Maróczy-Wallis Variation

The Maróczy-Wallis Variation answers 5. a3 with 5...cxd4 instead of 5...Bxc3+. White wins the bishop with 6. axb4, and Black takes the knight with 6...dxc3. Black comes out a pawn ahead. In return, White has the bishop pair, a half-open a-file and attacking prospects against a kingside missing its dark-squared bishop, though the b-pawns are doubled. 7. bxc3 is the usual reply. 7. Qg4 is less common but scores markedly better for White. Engines give White a clear advantage.

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