The Poisoned Pawn Variation is a variation of the French, Winawer Variation, catalogued as ECO C18. The line runs 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. Qg4, reaching the position shown below after 13 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4 and e5, Black on d5), and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is Black to move after seven moves. White has doubled pawns on the c-file; White’s a-file pawn is isolated; White has the bishop pair.
On the French, Winawer Variation generally: One of the most complex French variations. Black pins the Nc3 with Bb4, leading to sharp pawn structures and dynamic play.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 8 French, Winawer Variation variations →
The Poisoned Pawn Variation goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. Qg4. It is a variation of the French, Winawer Variation and is catalogued as ECO C18.
The Poisoned Pawn Variation is ECO C18. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the French, Winawer Variation.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. Qg4 at +0.47 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 d4 and e5, Black on d5), and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is Black to move. White has doubled pawns on the c-file; White’s a-file pawn is isolated; White has the bishop pair.