C11 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

French Defense: Steinitz Variation

10/10
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3a64.Nf3Nf65.e5Nfd7
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
French Defense: Steinitz Variation91k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
36%32k46%
French Defense: Classical Variation19%17k47%
French Defense: Steinitz Variation9.2%8.4k50%
7.8%7.1k43%
7.8%7.1k43%
French Defense: Steinitz Variation7.3%6.7k43%
5%4.6k42%
4.8%4.4k48%
0.8%75743%
0.8%74350%
Famous games in this line55 master games
Goryachkina, A. (2533) – Radjabov, T. (2692)20250–1Cheparinov, I. (2705) – Speelman, J. (2503)20181–0Shankland, S. (2672) – Cordova, E. (2531)20240–1Meng, Yihan (2443) – Nihal, Sarin (2693)20250–1Massoni, Michael (2381) – Short, Nigel D (2707)2012½–½Rogers, Ian (2558) – Efimov, Igor (2520)20001–0Spassky, Boris V (2550) – Prie, Eric (2460)19911–0Golubev, Mikhail (2527) – Bartel, Mateusz (2482)20041–0
Heroes of this opening Radjabov, T. · Cheparinov, I. · Cordova, E. · Nihal, Sarin
Family
French Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C11
Line
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7
★ Read the guide: French DefenseExplore all 212 French Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
French Defense: Advance Variation, Euwe VariationC02 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7French Defense: Advance Variation, Wade VariationC02 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Bd7French Defense: Winawer Variation, Retreat VariationC17 3…Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5
From the archives

In 1834 the city of Paris beat the city of London in a correspondence match opening with 1...e6, and the defense has carried the name ever since. Botvinnik and Korchnoi built careers on its cramped-then-counterpunch character: concede space, then break with ...c5 or ...f6 at the right moment.

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