Chessy
The French Defense: Winawer Variation with 4.a3
After the moves 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4, White plays 4.a3 immediately asking what you intend to do with your bishop. You should capture — 4...Bxc3+ — and the position is dead level. Stockfish rates this -0.08, a razor-thin edge for Black, meaning you have absolutely nothing to worry about. In fact, across nearly 88,000 games you score 48.8%, edging out White's 47.6%. That equal starting point makes this a perfect opening to build your Black repertoire around. Play the French Winawer and you get a fighting middlegame every time.
Play the French Defense: Winawer Variation: a3 against the engine
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Create a free account →The Big Idea: Surrendering the Bishop Pair
By taking on c3 with 4...Bxc3+ you give White the two bishops — but in return you gain a solid pawn structure and clear plans. After the almost universal reply 5.bxc3 (played in 87,848 of the 87,995 games in the database), the main line continues 5...dxe4 6.Qg4 Nf6. White's queen moves out early, attacking g7 and putting pressure on your kingside. Your task is straightforward: develop sensibly, castle quickly, and use your central pawn majority on the queenside to create counterplay. The doubled c-pawns White has to manage are a real long-term weakness you can target later in the game.
What the Statistics Tell You
This is one of those rare openings where the raw results favour Black slightly despite the engine calling it dead even. From 87,995 games at this exact position, Black wins 48.8% of the time while White wins 47.6%, with just 3.7% draws. That low draw rate is a sign of an opening that leads to imbalanced, fighting chess — exactly what you want when playing Black. The engine gives -0.08, so you are playing a position that is microscopically in your favour. There is no need to fear the Winawer: you are on perfectly solid ground from move four.
Punish White's Biggest Blunders
White's only good move here is 5.bxc3, and the statistics prove it brutally. The other options are outright blunders that you must know how to handle: - 5.Bd2 (133 games): White scores just 4.5%. This move loses roughly 4.4 pawns in evaluation. You should simply capture the bishop on c3 and enjoy a winning position. - 5.Ke2 (10 games): White scores 10.0%. A loss of about 4.0 pawns. Your best reply is to take the knight on c3 and then harass the exposed white king. - 5.Qd2 (4 games): White has scored 0.0% — not a single win. This loses about 6.8 pawns. Capturing on c3 will leave White with a queen that is misplaced and a crippled pawn structure. If your opponent plays anything other than 5.bxc3, you are already significantly better.
Your Plan After bxc3
After the main continuation 5.bxc3 dxe4 6.Qg4 Nf6, Black has a clear path. White's queen comes to g4 attacking your g7 pawn, but your knight on f6 already meets that threat. You will follow up with natural developing moves: ...Be7, ...0-0, and then look to advance your queenside pawns (...c5 and ...a5 or ...b6 ideas). The doubled c-pawns White accepted in exchange for the bishop pair often become a real liability once the queens come off. Unlike some other French lines where space is a problem, here you have straightforward counterplay. The engine's recommended continuation keeps the game balanced, and with 48.8% winning chances you can outplay your opponent in the middlegame.
Results across 87,995 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| bxc3 | 87,848 | 47.6% |
| Bd2 | 133 | 4.5% |
| Ke2 | 10 | 10.0% |
| Qd2 | 4 | 0.0% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the French Winawer with 4.a3 good for Black?
Yes — it is dead equal. Stockfish rates the position -0.08 in Black's favour, and from 87,995 games Black wins 48.8% of the time, slightly more than White's 47.6%. You are on perfectly solid ground as Black.
Should Black recapture with bxc3 or the queen after 4...Bxc3+?
Black plays 4...Bxc3+ and White recaptures — Black does not recapture. After 4.a3 Bxc3+ it is White to move. White's best move is 5.bxc3, giving them doubled c-pawns. That is exactly what you want as Black.
What is White's best move after 4...Bxc3+?
White must play 5.bxc3. The alternatives — 5.Bd2, 5.Ke2, and 5.Qd2 — are all blunders that lose at least 4.0 pawns in evaluation. In 133 games with 5.Bd2, White scored a terrible 4.5%.
What does Black do after 5.bxc3 dxe4 6.Qg4?
Play 6...Nf6, developing with a tempo against the white queen. From there you will play ...Be7, castle kingside, and prepare queenside expansion with ...c5. The engine rates the resulting position as dead level at -0.08.
How many games feature the French Defense: Winawer Variation: a3?
Over 87K Lichess games have reached the French Defense: Winawer Variation: a3 position. White wins 47.6%, Black wins 48.8%, with 3.7% draws — based on real rated games.