French Defense Winawer Advance Moscow Variation
French Defense
Definition
The French Defense is a family of chess openings that begins after the moves 1. e4 e6. Black immediately challenges White’s central ambitions with …d5 on the second move, creating a solid but asymmetrical pawn structure in which the light-squared bishop is temporarily obstructed by its own pawns.
Typical Move Order
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 followed by one of several main branches:
- 3. Nc3 (or 3.Nd2) – leads to Classical systems such as the Winawer, Rubinstein, or Tarrasch.
- 3. e5 – the Advance Variation, immediately gaining space.
- 3. exd5 – the Exchange Variation, simplifying the center.
Strategic Themes
- Pawn tension: White often keeps the e4–d4 chain while Black counters with …c5 or …f6.
- Piece imbalance: Black’s light-squared bishop can be bad early, but springs to life after …c5, …Qb6, or a timely exchange.
- Counterplay vs. solidity: Black accepts a somewhat cramped position in return for long-term structural resilience and chances to undermine White’s center.
Historical Notes
The name stems from an 1834 Paris–London correspondence match in which the French team repeatedly employed 1…e6. It became a key weapon for champions such as Aron Nimzowitsch, Mikhail Botvinnik, Viktor Korchnoi, and more recently Ding Liren.
Illustrative Mini-Game
Interesting Facts
- Because the pawn on e6 blocks the bishop, French specialists often joke that their kingside bishop “reads newspapers” until it is finally liberated.
- The ECO (Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings) dedicates the entire “C” section from C00 to C19 to the French Defense and its many branches.
Winawer Variation
Definition
The Winawer Variation arises after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4. Named after the Polish master Szymon Winawer (pronounced Vee-nah-ver), Black pins the knight and prepares to undermine White’s center with …c5.
Key Lines
- 4. e5 – the Advance (main line). White gains space; Black strikes back with …c5.
- 4. exd5 exd5 5.Bd3 – the Winawer Exchange.
- 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 – the Alekhine-Chatard line.
Strategic Ideas
- White’s doubled c-pawns after Bxc3+ often yield two bishops and central space.
- Black tries to generate queenside counterplay (…c5, …Qa5, …Ne7-c6) and pressure the d4 pawn.
- The structure frequently leads to opposite-side castling and sharp attacking races.
Historical Significance
Adopted by world champions from Capablanca to Carlsen, the Winawer is one of the most theoretically demanding branches of the French. Fischer used it to defeat Gligorić (Havana 1965), while Kasparov wielded it against Karpov in their 1990 title match.
Example Fragment
Trivia
Szymon Winawer, the variation’s namesake, was also a mathematics professor—apt for an opening that often requires deep calculation.
Advance Variation (in the French)
Definition
The Advance Variation of the French arises when White pushes the e-pawn instead of exchanging or developing a knight: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5. By locking the center, White claims space and restricts Black’s light-squared bishop.
Plans for Both Sides
- White: Build a kingside attack with c3, Nf3, Bd3, h4-h5, or squeeze Black with a long-term space advantage.
- Black: Counterattack the base of the chain (d4) with …c5 and/or the head (e5) with …f6. The typical maneuver …Qc7, …Bd7, …Rc8 supports the pawn break.
Typical Continuations
- 3…c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 – the classical setup.
- 3…c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 – modern, flexible.
- 3…c5 4.c3 Qb6 – the Milner-Barry Gambit possibilities after 5.Nf3.
Historical Perspective
The Advance was championed by Aron Nimzowitsch in the 1920s and later refined by players like Viktor Korchnoi and Nigel Short. Its strategic clarity makes it popular at club level, yet top grandmasters also employ it to sidestep the heaviest Winawer or Tarrasch theory.
Sample Short Game
Fun Fact
When computers first surpassed humans, many engines evaluated the Advance French as slightly better for White but struggled to convert the space advantage—mirroring human experience!
Moscow Variation (Winawer, Advance line)
Definition
Within the Winawer, the Moscow Variation appears after the sequence:
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7
Black defers castling and prepares …Qc7, …b6, and …Ba6, aiming to challenge White’s center and exploit the dark-square weaknesses around the king.
Why “Moscow”?
The line received extensive analytical attention from Soviet players based in Moscow during the 1950s–60s, notably David Bronstein and later the young Anatoly Karpov. Their collective research cemented the nickname.
Strategic Nuances
- By playing …Ne7 instead of …Nf6, Black keeps the g-pawn free for a timely …g6, bolstering the dark squares.
- White often responds with 7.Nf3, 7.Qg4, or 7.h4, each leading to violently tactical positions.
- The open a-file (after a3 and …Bxc3+) can become a highway for Black’s rook once …Qa5+ or …Ba6 appears.
Model Game
Karpov – Spassky, Leningrad Interzonal 1973:
Interesting Tidbits
- The Moscow is sometimes called the “Short Variation” after English GM Nigel Short, who revived it in the 1990s, but this can be confused with other “Short” systems.
- Engine analysis has not refuted the Moscow line; instead, modern practice shows a dynamically balanced fight, making it a favorite surprise weapon in rapid and blitz.
- Because both sides postpone castling, kings can end up on opposite wings, with razor-sharp pawn storms in the middlegame.