French Winawer — defence for Black

The Winawer: 3...Bb4 pins the c3 knight and asks White for a fight. Lines include the main 7.Qg4 with ...Qc7 or ...O-O, 7.Nf3 with ...b6 and ...Ba6, the 5...Ba5 retreat, 5.Bd2 Ne7 6.Nb5, and the early 4.a3, 4.exd5, 4.Ne2 and 4.Bd2 tries. 9 lines for Black: Poisoned Pawn ...Qc7, 7.Qg4 O-O, 7.Nf3 b6 ...Ba6, 5...Ba5 6.b4 cxd4, 5.Bd2 Ne7 6.Nb5, 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 dxe4, 4.exd5 with ...Nc6, 4.Ne2 dxe4, 4.Bd2 dxe4 5.Qg4.

Popularity rank #51 of 64 · Endgame Pro defence · against 3.Nc3 Bb4

After 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3, White has doubled c-pawns and the bishop pair, while Black has a better structure and a closed centre. In the Poisoned Pawn lines, Black's kingside opens and the centre pawns become strong.

Watch out: Without the dark bishop, your dark squares are thin. Keep the g7 pawn or a strong counter-attack in mind, and never let White's bishop settle on a3 or f6 for free.

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