The Chiburdanidze Variation in the French Winawer: A surprise weapon in the Main Line French Defense

The French Defense has once more become a viable way for Black to meet 1.e4, and against 3.Nc3, Winawer's 3...Bb4 is considered Black's strongest and most combative weapon. The Chiburdanidze Variation, 4.Qd3, allows White to immediately depart from main line theory and take Black onto turf that only White is familiar with. It was introduced into master play by then Women's World Champion Maia Chiburdanidze in 1985, and it has since found a following among grandmasters such as Jonny Hector, Olexandr Bortnyk, and many other players who prefer original ideas and uncharted territory to theoretical main lines.