The Winawer Variation, Alekhine Gambit, Alatortsev Variation is a variation of the French Defense, catalogued as ECO C15. The line runs 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Ne2 dxe4 5. a3 Be7 6. Nxe4 Nf6 7. N2g3 O-O 8. Be2 Nc6, reaching the position shown below after 16 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move after eight moves. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted.
On the French Defense generally: A solid defense where Black builds a strong pawn chain. Leads to strategic middlegames with clear plans.
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The Winawer Variation, Alekhine Gambit, Alatortsev Variation goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Ne2 dxe4 5. a3 Be7 6. Nxe4 Nf6 7. N2g3 O-O 8. Be2 Nc6. It is a variation of the French Defense and is catalogued as ECO C15.
The Winawer Variation, Alekhine Gambit, Alatortsev Variation is ECO C15. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the French Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Ne2 dxe4 5. a3 Be7 6. Nxe4 Nf6 7. N2g3 O-O 8. Be2 Nc6 at +0.18 at depth 18, which is balanced. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted.