Winawer Variation of the French Defense (C15-C19) ⎸Chess Openings

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The Winawer Variation is the most aggressive way for black to play the French Defense, and it will most often lead to extremely interesting attacking positions.
Learn the basics of the French Defense (common plans, traps and ideas) in this video: • Introduction to the Fr...
Study the Tarrasch French: • Tarrasch Variation of ...
A simple way to fight the French - the Exchange Variation: • Exchange Variation of ...
The Winawer French occurs after the moves:
1.e4 e6
2.d4 d5
3.Nc3 (entering the Classical or the Paulsen French)
3…Bb4 - This is the start of the Winawer Variation (the second most common move for black is 3…Nf6 - the Classical French)
White has several ways to confront the Winawer. The most common and the most sensible continuation is:
4.e5; advancing in the center, gaining space and activating as much as possible as soon as possible. This move is also trying to probe that Bb4 was an inaccurate move and that the bishop is now misplaced.
Black will commonly continue with 4…c5, immediately seeking counter play on the queenside and striking through white’s strong center. This line will most often lead to the poisoned pawn variation which is also known as the main line.
Instead of c5, the main move, on move 4 black could also try:
4... c5
5. a3 (main line)
An example of the Retreat Variation (when after a3 black doesn’t take on c3 but plays Ba5) • Nakamura cracked Akobi... Nakamura vs Akobian 2018 US Championship
5. Bd2 (Bogoljubov Variation)
4... Ne7 - This move can lead to very interesting positions white is rarely comfortable with. The resulting subtle differences can often mislead white into blundering early on.
4... b6
The sidelines for white on move 4 are:
4. exd5 (delayed exchange)
4. Ne2 (Alekhine-Maroczy Gambit)
4. a3 (Winckelmann-Riemer Gambit)
4. Bd3
4. Bd2 (the Fingerslip variation)
Player’s whose games you should study are Richard Rapport, Varuzhan Akobian and Simon Williams (GingerGM). There are, of course, older masters who were well versed in the French Winawer, but these three are the biggest names who play the French today.

[@RDiChariotti]

e5: c5 Ba5 2:42 c5 Bxc3 3:50 Ne7 10:40 b6 13:00 exd5 13:46

[@kaseabernathy3642]

If i'm not mistaken, Tal vs Botvinnik world championship 1960 game 1 went down the poison pawn variation, and Tal played the novelty Kd1! instead of Ne2 after black plays cxd4. Tal managed to win the first game of the match with this odd looking move.

[@zeus1141]

In a tournament; I actually faced the winaver as white... which I won. Then in the same tournament based on how uncomfortable made me feel the opening when used against me, I ended using it against another player as black. Which I won too LOL

[@enriquesocrates6822]

Thanks for sharing your great work

[@skwal4]

Thank you for the awesome vids!

[@josephboeta]

Thank you my friend

[@mustafasaid6381]

Again good commentary and explaination

[@addfistyt6563]

Very nice❤️

[@piter_pog1448]

thanks

[@martinbrkic14]

Speaking of Wickelmann-Reimer gambit, I suggest you to look for Fisher - Kovačević from 1970

[@arunioshadee1637]

good video

[@anirudh1976]

nice

[@danieltimko2866]

In the 4.Bd3 variation, castling on move 10 would actually be a mistake, because of 10..e4, trapping the bishop.

[@jamesreed4483]

6...Qa5 is popular today, the Hook variation. It is less complicated than other Winawer lines and easier to play but still very interesting.

[@radouanebaha706]

شكرا

[@Mark.J.McCready]

Nice video but why is the Bogoljubow variation not discussed?

[@SatenSheets]

Have you made any videos on the Mikenas Defense? I'm curious. I love the oddball defenses.

[@holesaya3122]

love your vidio i hope you can make more vidio about french opening.

[@HangingPawns]

Thanks very much. I'm glad you like them! I'm posting the Advance variation tomorrow, and then I will probably make 2 more videos with sidelines to finish the series:) (You can also watch the exchange, the Tarrasch and the video on the basics on the French I've already made.)

[@jaroslavpors6559]

In Bd3 variation d×e4 B×e4 Nf6 Bf3 I love e5! d×e5 Q×d1 K×d1 Ng4! B×g4 B×g4+ f3 Bf5 with realy big compensation after a-rook to d-file and 0-0 followed by f6 to activate second rook

[@edgarkais2430]

I think 4.Qd3 is also interesting and has pretty good results for white.

[@jaroslavpors6559]

But after c5 black is equal and white center could be destroy quickly but anand also play it so it should be good

[@kavyanshagrawal5279]

Where is the Bogoljubov variation

[@AhmedHassan-im6cq]

Excuse me! you did not mention the variation (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 {Winawer} 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.a4 An interesting idea to take advantage of dark squares and also prevent both (....Qa5-a4) and (.....Bd7-a4) which attack the weak c2-pawn. Would you mind making a video about this variation?

[@kavyanshagrawal5279]

Yeah.. Fischer used to play this...and also Bogoljubov variation was missed

[@taylorhoulihan]

4. e5 1:26 4… Ne7 10:41 4… b6 13:00 4. exd5 13:52 4. Ne2 14:42 4. a3 17:52 4. Bd2 19:11 4. Bd3 20:36

[@amirkhusru4603]

what if Queen to g4 after bishop to b4

[@etienneleonard2523]

Also interesting in the Main line: After 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Nf3 Sets up a greek Gift, so After 8... c4? 9.Bxh7!

[@mardigbidanian7119]

Ismt the poisoned pawn variation the moscow or Russian variation

[@theexecutioner4502]

Theres no bogoljubov variation presented its about 5.a3

[@eliabergamin4237]

The analysis of Alekhine Gambit isn't very accurate

[@hess6wi]

After 4... dxe4 5.a3. Black has 3 moves (in order of most played to least) Be7, Bxc3+ and Ba5. 35 move deep computer analysis gives +0.45 +0.2 and +0.44 to these 3 moves respectively. This seems like a reasonable opening edge for white. It is +0.35 after 5...Bxc3+ in the mainline for comparison.

[@faznaz7455]

This is much too optimistic of black's play. There's a reason the french is unpopular amongst the majority of GM's. Although u mentioned some good points about blacks play, there's a few lines white can do that really pushes black on the back foot.

[@Sough]

I've noticed lots of optimism for black in general on this channel, esp the caro kann. Not a big problem but a bit odd

[@johnvuillemot4805]

...a bit optimistic? Give me a break! This is completely playable, Nepo plays it even!

[@davemathew]

Yeah but most of us ain't playing GM's.