French Defense: Winawer Variation, Alekhine Gambit, Kan Variation
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Alekhine Gambit, Kan Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code C15, part of the French Defense family. It goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Ne2 dxe4 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Nxc3 Nc6. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e6. After 12 moves it is White to move. After the last move Black is a pawn ahead in material. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
1... e6 – Black plays the pawn to e6
2. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
2... d5 – Black plays the pawn to d5
3. Nc3 – White plays the knight to c3
3... Bb4 – Black plays the bishop to b4
4. Ne2 – White plays the knight to e2
4... dxe4 – Black captures on e4 with the d-pawn
5. a3 – White plays the pawn to a3
5... Bxc3+ – Black takes on c3 with the bishop, giving check
6. Nxc3 – White takes on c3 with the knight
6... Nc6 – Black plays the knight to c6
About the French Defense
Black answers 1.e4 with 1...e6 and then ...d5, attacking White's centre. Black accepts a little less space for a very solid position.
If White plays e5, pawn chains form: White attacks on the kingside, Black on the queenside.
Black hits the chain at its base with ...c5 and adds pressure with ...Nc6 and ...Qb6.
The light-squared bishop on c8 is often passive; Black may trade it or free it with ...b6 and ...Ba6.
chessGM