The Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line is a variation of the French Defense, catalogued as ECO C17. The line runs 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4, reaching the position shown below after 12 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e5, Black on d4 and d5). Development is level at one minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move after six moves. Black has doubled pawns on the d-file.
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, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4. It is a variation of the French Defense and is catalogued as ECO C17.
The Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line is ECO C17. 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 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4 at +0.60 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. 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). Development is level at one minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move. Black has doubled pawns on the d-file.