ECO C11 · French Defense

French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4… Nfd7+0.35

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation (C11), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Nfd7 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.35).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.354… Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Qd2
  2. +0.644… Ne4 5. Nxe4 dxe4 6. Be3 c5 7. dxc5 Nd7 8. Qg4 Nxc5 9. Bb5+
  3. +0.954… Ng8 5. a3 c5 6. dxc5 Nd7 7. b4 Nxe5 8. Bf4 Qf6 9. Qd2

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. f4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Nfd7 for Black, continuing 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Qd2. White is slightly better (+0.35). The next best moves are 4… Ne4 (+0.64) and 4… Ng8 (+0.95).
Is the French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.35: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation?
C11. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).