French Defense: Winawer Variation
Aggressive line with Bb4. Complex and double-edged.
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1. e4 › French Defense › Winawer Variation
Change
Sequence
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3Bb4
Possible Variations33
4. e520 variations
4. Ne25 variations
4. Bd24 variations
4. exd52 variations
4. a3Winckelmann-Reimer Gambit4. a3 4... Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 5... dxe4
4. Bd3Kondratiyev Variation4. Bd3 4... c5 5. exd5 5... Qxd5
About this opening
The Winawer Variation (3.Nc3 Bb4) is the sharpest line of the French: the pin on the c3 knight often forces ...Bxc3, doubling White's pawns in return for the bishop pair and a kingside attack. The structural imbalances are pronounced and the play highly combative. Szymon Winawer gave it his name; Mikhail Botvinnik demonstrated all of its strategic depth.