French Defense: Steinitz Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 a6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7

ECO C11

The French Defense: Steinitz Variation is a chess opening line in the French Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 a6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7.

It is catalogued under code C11 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Nfd7 is chosen by Black on move 5.

4 named continuations branch from this position, including the Boleslavsky Variation and the Bradford Attack Variation.

Named variations

• French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation — ECO C11
• French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Bradford Attack Variation — ECO C11
• French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Brodsky-Jones Variation — ECO C11
• French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack — ECO C11

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Beat the French with 3.Nc3 course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.