Winawer Poisoned Pawn
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Dont know it. I think ive seen Kf8 played instead of Qc7 in similar positions, and that struck me as being very passive
After 7 Qg4 Qc7 scores 45% 2317 games 7.....0-0 scores 46% 1442 games, 7...Kf8 48% 399 games, 7...cxd4 49% 392 games ...Chess Assistant data base...
Reb, presumably those statistics will depend a lot on how recent the Qc7 games are. The original poster wants to know if a line that used to be good has lost its punch.
I think its still ok, just not as good as some of the other moves perhaps. The poisoned pawn winawer favors white but black gets a complicated game with chances. I have played both sides of it off and on for years and the games are always fun/interesting and not many draws. If you only need a draw for some reason, its not a good choice imo. 
Thanks all! I just finished a game with the poisoned pawn and won as black. You might want to look at the World Championships between Botvinnik and Tal to find out how Tal got an advantage as white. It's just that I'm relatively concerned whether I should stick to it, play 0-0 and give White the initiative, or play Kf8!? and see what happens
KillaBeez wrote: Thanks all! I just finished a game with the poisoned pawn and won as black. You might want to look at the World Championships between Botvinnik and Tal to find out how Tal got an advantage as white. It's just that I'm relatively concerned whether I should stick to it, play 0-0 and give White the initiative, or play Kf8!? and
However, in the world championship match, Botvinnik played 6... Qc7 and 7... f5.
see what happensHowever, in the world championship match, Botvinnik played 6... Qc7 and 7... f5. Because the f pawn was moved, Tal could play Qh5+ after Bd7, and get his queen into safety without losing time.
The French is my favorite response to 1. e4 and I have had great success with it. However, I play Qc7 against the poisoned pawn. I have recently read an article that stated that the Qc7 line is outdated and that it gives white too big of an advantage. Is this just a fallacy or should I really be concerned?
For those of you who do not know the line I am referring to, here it is.