French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation
The Advance Variation of the Winawer is 4.e5, closing the center and asking Black to show how the bishop on b4 will help. Black usually plays ...c5 or ...Ne7 and gives up the bishop for the c3 knight, while White uses a3 and Qg4 to exploit the dark squares.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5
- ECO
- C16, C17, C18
- Engine
- +0.58 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 1,211 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 49.8%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Play 5.a3 to force ...Bxc3+ and recapture 6.bxc3, taking the bishop pair.
- Qg4 attacks g7; in the main engine line 8.Qxg7 grabs the pawn and opens the g-file for Black too.
- h4 and Rb1, as in the second engine line, gain space and pressure the b-file.
- Keep the e5 pawn strong so Black's knight cannot use f6.
Black
- 4...c5 hits d4 at once and prepares ...Qc7 after the bishop trade.
- 4...Ne7 keeps the bishop on b4 one more move and prepares ...c5 with the knight covering f5 and g6.
- After Qg4, ...Qc7 counters with pressure on c3 and e5 even if g7 falls.
- Avoid 4...Bf8, which loses time and lets White grab the g7 pawn in the third engine line.
Plans and pawn structure
This is the main battlefield of the Winawer. White has doubled c-pawns and two bishops, plus space on the kingside. Black's plan is ...c5, ...Ne7, ...Qc7 or ...Qa5 and pressure on c3 and d4. White attacks g7 with Qg4 and may grab it, then uses the open g-file. Black often answers by opening lines in the center and queenside, so both kings can be in danger.
Where the engine's main line heads: White has doubled c-pawns. White's c-pawns are doubled, usually after ...Bxc3 bxc3. In return White keeps the bishop pair and a solid center.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.58: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.58 4...c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4
- +0.59 4...Ne7 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.h4
- +0.97 4...Bf8 5.a3 c5 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.Qg4
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
1,211 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.8%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Winawer Variation, Petrosian Variation4...Qd7 · rare
- Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, Paoli Variation4...c5 · rare
- Winawer Variation, Advance Variation, Smyslov Variation4...Ne7 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, play 4...c5 or 4...Ne7 and trade on c3 when White plays a3. Be ready for Qg4: either defend g7 or counterattack with ...Qc7. Do not retreat the bishop to f8, which wastes time.
Other lines with this name
The lichess opening list also files these lines under the same name, though they reach a different position: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5; 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3; 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 cxd4 6.axb4 dxc3 7.Nf3.
Questions
What are the moves of the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation?
The French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation starts 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5. Its ECO code is C16, C17, C18.
Is the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.58 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 1,211 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.8%. A sharp main-line choice for both sides, demanding concrete knowledge of the Qg4 lines.
What is the main idea of the French Defense: Winawer Variation, Advance Variation?
White closes the center and gets the bishop pair after a3. Black hits d4 and c3 with ...c5 and ...Qc7 while White attacks g7 with Qg4.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is c5, with Ne7 and Bf8 close behind. 4...c5 hits d4 at once and gets ready to trade on c3 when White plays a3.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.