Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nc3/3...Bb4/4. e5/4...c5

French Defence, Winawer Variation
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black kingd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black pawnf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black pawnd5 black pawne5 white pawnf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black bishopc4 black kingd4 white pawne4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 white knightd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 black kingc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5

French Defence, Winawer Variation

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This is the main line of the Winawer Variation. Black has just pushed forward his c pawn with 4...c5, threatening white's pawn chain. White's knight on c3 prevents him from extending the chain by moving a pawn to c3, so this puts white's center pawns in danger.

However, c5 also blocks the escape route for black's dark squared bishop. White usually takes advantage of this to regain the initiative with 5.a3. Black usually trades bishop for knight with 5...Bxc3+ 6.bxc3.

Theory table

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For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5
5
Main line a3
Bxc3+
=
Bd2
Ne7
=

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References

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