This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation
The Winawer Variation of the French Defense arises after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4, where Black pins White's knight to challenge control of the center. The Advance Variation continues with 4. e5 c5, with White gaining space in the center and Black immediately striking at White's d4 pawn.
Characteristic of the move 4...c5: This move is a thematic counterattack in the French Defense, aiming to undermine White's strong pawn chain on d4 and e5. By challenging the center from the flank, Black seeks to create tension and open lines for piece activity.
Attacking or Defensive: As White, the Advance Variation is generally an attacking setup, leveraging spatial advantage and space to restrict Black's pieces. Black’s move 4...c5 is also aggressive, as it actively contests White's center rather than adopting a purely defensive stance.
Center Control: This opening is very much about the fight for central control. White asserts space with the e5 push, while Black counters by attacking White's center with c5, trying to destabilize it and gain counterplay.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 21 - Move #8 white
You can also discover how top players used French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.