The Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation is a variation of the French Defense, catalogued as ECO C18. The line runs 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 cxd4 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 Nbc6, reaching the position shown below after 18 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e5, Black on d4 and d5), and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Black is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to White's one, and White is up a pawn of material. It is White to move after nine moves. White has doubled pawns on the c-file; Black has doubled pawns on the d-file; White’s a- and c-files pawns are isolated.
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, Poisoned Pawn Variation goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 cxd4 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 Nbc6. It is a variation of the French Defense and is catalogued as ECO C18.
The Winawer Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation is ECO C18. 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. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 cxd4 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 Nbc6 at +0.67 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for White. 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.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e5, Black on d4 and d5), and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Black is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to White's one, and White is up a pawn of material. It is White to move. White has doubled pawns on the c-file; Black has doubled pawns on the d-file; White’s a- and c-files pawns are isolated.