C00

Steinitz Variation

In this variation of the French Defense, White aims to gain space in the center with 4.e5, pushing the pawn and challenging Black's position. Key ideas for White include maintaining a strong pawn center and preparing for piece development, while Black often seeks to undermine White's center with moves like ...c5 or ...f6. The resulting pawn structure typically leads to a closed game, appealing to players who enjoy strategic maneuvering and long-term planning rather than immediate tactical skirmishes.

In this variation of the French Defense, White aims to gain space in the center with 4. e5, pushing the pawn and challenging Black's position.

17Lines
3Named Variations
13Deepest Line
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
17Lines
3Named Variations
13Deepest Line

Training Modes

Start Here

Explore

Browse the full variation tree and discover named branches.

Practice

Play lines against the computer and get instant feedback.

Play

Play a real game against the computer using this opening's lines.

Dive Deeper

Explore sub-variations with their own training modes and traps.

Key Lines