Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation
- 1.e4e6
- 2.d4d5
- 3.Nc3Bb4
- 4.e5c5
- 5.a3Ba5
1,137 games
A Winawer French sideline in which Black answers 5. a3 by retreating the bishop to a5, preserving the pin on c3 and steering clear of the main lines.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Retreat Variation
In the Retreat Variation Black declines to give up the dark-squared bishop with 5...Bxc3+ and plays 5...Ba5, so the c3-knight stays pinned and the familiar doubled-pawn structures of the main Winawer are sidestepped. The most popular and most forcing answer is 6. b4, which breaks the pin and demands an immediate reply; 6...cxd4 is the Armenian Line. Other options include 6. dxc5 and 6. Qg4. Results are evenly split, and the engine gives White a slight edge.