Winawer Variation, Positional Variation
- 1.e4e6
- 2.d4d5
- 3.Nc3Bb4
- 4.e5c5
- 5.a3Bxc3+
- 6.bxc3Ne7
- 7.Nf3
1,020 games
A strategic branch of the French Winawer in which White answers 6...Ne7 with the developing 7. Nf3 rather than 7. Qg4, leaving Black a range of setups.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Positional Variation
In the Positional Variation White meets 6...Ne7 with 7. Nf3, developing rather than attacking g7 with 7. Qg4, which gives Black a wider choice of setups. 7...Nbc6 is the most common reply, followed by 7...Qa5 and 7...Qc7. 7...b6 seeks to trade the light-squared bishops via ...Ba6, while 7...Bd7 aims for ...Ba4 against c2, which White usually stops with 8. a4. Black often castles long, closes the queenside with ...c4 and breaks with ...f6. Results are close to even.