Chess Openings Lab
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French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation

The Steinitz Variation is 4.e5 in the Classical French, chasing the f6 knight before White develops the queen's bishop. White grabs space and plans f4 to lock the center, while Black hits the d4-e5 chain with ...c5 and pressure from ...Nc6 and ...Qb6.

Moves
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5
ECO
C11, C14
Engine
+0.39 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
2,724 games in our lichess sample
White scores
51.9%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Back up e5 with f4 and Nf3, the main engine line, and build a center that cramps Black's kingside.
  • Protect d4 with Be3, then queen to d2 and long castling to keep the king away from Black's queenside play.
  • After ...cxd4 recapture with the knight on d4 and use it as a central post.
  • Keep the light bishop pointed at h7 from d3 or e2 for a later kingside attack.

Black

  • 4...Nfd7 is the only good square. 4...Ne4 and 4...Ng8 waste time and leave White much better.
  • Strike with ...c5 and ...Nc6, then release with ...cxd4 to open the c-file.
  • Trade dark bishops with ...Bc5 after the center opens, removing White's best defender of the dark squares.
  • Hit the head of the chain with ...f6 once White's king or f4 pawn becomes a target.

Plans and pawn structure

The locked chain d4-e5 against d5-e6 splits the board. White plays on the kingside with f4, Nf3 and sometimes f5, and often castles long after Be3 and Qd2. Black works on the queenside and center with ...c5, ...Nc6, ...Qb6 and ...cxd4, aiming to put a piece on c5 and trade the dark bishops. After ...cxd4 and Nxd4 the game opens, and accurate piece play matters more than pawn structure.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.39: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.39 4...Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3
  2. +0.95 4...Ne4 5.Nxe4 dxe4 6.Bc4 Qd7 7.c3
  3. +0.99 4...Ng8 5.a3 a6 6.Bd3 c5 7.dxc5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

2,724 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.9%.

under 120054.5%
1200–159951.7%
1600–199950.0%
2000 and up54.7%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, retreat with 4...Nfd7 and play ...c5 next. Do not move the knight to e4 or back to g8: both lose time and give White a clear plus. If White plays f4, the quickest counterplay is ...Nc6, ...Qb6 and ...cxd4, opening lines before White finishes development.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.f4.

Questions

What are the moves of the French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation?

The French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation starts 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5. Its ECO code is C11, C14.

Is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.39 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 2,724 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.9%. A rich, strategic choice for White players who like space and kingside attacks, and it asks Black to know the ...c5 counterplay well.

What is the main idea of the French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation?

White gains space with 4.e5 and supports it with f4. Black answers with ...Nfd7 and ...c5, attacking the base of White's chain on d4.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nfd7, with Ne4 and Ng8 close behind. 4...Nfd7 keeps the knight near the center and frees the c-pawn for ...c5.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.