Library/Openings/French Defense/Winawer Variation/Retreat Variation/Armenian Line ECO C17
Opening· 12 plies

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C17), reached after 12 half-moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4.

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line ECO C17
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Black rook
Black knight
Black bishop
Black queen
Black king
Black knight
Black rook
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black bishop
Black pawn
White pawn
White pawn
Black pawn
White pawn
White knight
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White rook
White bishop
White queen
White king
White bishop
White knight
White rook
12/12
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  5. 3.
  7. 4.
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  11. 6.
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End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, Armenian Line is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C17. ECO group C (C00–C99) covers open games (1.e4 e5) and the French Defence, including the Ruy Lopez, Italian, Scotch and King's Gambit. This particular variation is reached after 12 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 cxd4.

It belongs to the French Defense family. Within that family this is a level-3 branch (the Winawer Variation → Retreat Variation → Armenian Line line). The immediate parent line is French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat Variation, transitioned via 6…cxd4.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e6, 2.d4 d5, 3.Nc3 Bb4, 4.e5 c5, 5.a3 Ba5, 6.b4 cxd4. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.