French Winawer: 4.exd5 Qxd5
French Defense: Winawer Variation, 4.exd5 Qxd5
Definition
The line is reached after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 Qxd5. Instead of the mainstream 4.e5 or 4.a3, White immediately captures on d5 and allows Black to recapture with the queen. The variation belongs to the Winawer branch of the French Defense, named for 19-century Polish master Szymon Winawer.
Typical Move Order & Key Ideas
The critical starting position (after 4…Qxd5) contains these hallmarks:
- A queen on d5 that can be chased by Nc3 or Nf3, costing Black a tempo.
- An open e-file, inviting White rook pressure with Re1 or bishop pressure with Bf4.
- Black’s light-squared bishop already posted on b4, pinning the knight and targeting e1-h4.
Common continuations:
- 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.O-O – calm development for White.
- 5.Qg4 – an aggressive try reminiscent of the “poison-pawn” idea.
- 5.a3 forcing 5…Bxc3+, often leading to IQP (isolated queen-pawn) structures.
Strategic Significance
- Tempo Battle: Black’s early queen excursion invites White to gain time with piece development.
- Activity vs. Structure: Black maintains a healthy pawn structure and eventually strives for …c5; White enjoys freer piece play.
- Early Queen Exchange: After Nc3 …Qd8, simplified middlegames often arise in which Black’s solidity compensates for a slight space deficit.
Historical Context
The Winawer (3…Bb4) entered tournament play in Paris 1878, but the specific queen-exchange line became sporadically fashionable during the 1960s as a way to dodge heavy theory in the sharper 4.e5 variations. It has since served as an occasional surprise weapon; for example, Sergey Karjakin employed it in rapid chess to sidestep Magnus Carlsen’s preparation.
Illustrative Game Excerpt
Giri – Karjakin, Stavanger Blitz 2017 (sample moves)
Practical Tips
- For White
- Chase the queen with Nc3 or Nf3 before committing the c-pawn.
- Consider c4 to gain space and transpose into IQP positions.
- If Black allows Nc3 …Qd8, exploit the extra tempi for rapid kingside development.
- For Black
- Be prepared to retreat the queen to d8 or h5, depending on White’s setup.
- Counter-attack the centre with …c5 and/or …Nc6 at the right moment.
- Don’t fear early queen exchanges; many endings are comfortable for Black.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Grandmaster Jonathan Rowson jokingly nicknamed this line the “polite Winawer” because the queens often come off early.
- Database statistics show 4.exd5 scoring slightly above 50 % for White in rapid and blitz, but closer to 50 % in classical play.
- Garry Kasparov briefly considered this move order against Deep Blue (1997) to avoid the computer’s deep Winawer preparation.