French Defense: Winawer Variation, Fingerslip Variation, Main Line
French Defense: Winawer Variation, Fingerslip Variation, Main Line 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. Bd2 dxe4 5. Qg4 Nf6 6. Qxg7 Rg8 7. Qh6. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e6. After 13 moves it is Black to move. 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. Bd2 – White plays the bishop to d2
4... dxe4 – Black captures on e4 with the d-pawn
5. Qg4 – White plays the queen to g4
5... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6
6. Qxg7 – White takes on g7 with the queen
6... Rg8 – Black plays the rook to g8
The line goes on for 1 more moves; the lesson shows them all.
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.
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