Theoria
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French Defense

Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Paoli Variation

C18tacticaloffbeat

  1. 1.e4e6
  2. 2.d4d5
  3. 3.Nc3Bb4
  4. 4.e5c5
  5. 5.a3Bxc3+
  6. 6.bxc3Ne7
  7. 7.Qg4Qc7
  8. 8.Qxg7Rg8
  9. 9.Qxh7cxd4
  10. 10.Kd1
51 games55%39%

A rare French Winawer Poisoned Pawn line in which White answers 9...cxd4 with 10. Kd1, giving up castling to avoid queen checks on c3 and e5.

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About the Paoli Variation

The Paoli Variation answers 9...cxd4 with 10. Kd1 rather than the usual 10. Ne2. The king leaves the e-file and the a5–e1 diagonal, so Black's queen captures on c3 or e5 no longer come with check. The price is White's castling rights. The move was once common but has been rare since 1999. Black most often replies 10...dxc3, with 10...Nbc6 and 10...Qxc3 also played. The engine rates the position as balanced.

Popular continuations