ECO C00 · French Defense

French Defense: Steiner Variation

1. e4 e6 2. c4

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

2… d5−0.13

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Steiner Variation (C00), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. c4, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.13).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.132… d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. exd5 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nxd5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be2
  2. +0.062… c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Nxc6
  3. +0.112… Nc6 3. Nc3 Nd4 4. d3 Ne7 5. Nce2 Nec6 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Ne2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Steiner Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. c4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… d5 for Black, continuing 3. cxd5 exd5 4. exd5 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nxd5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be2. The position is roughly equal (−0.13). The next best moves are 2… c5 (+0.06) and 2… Nc6 (+0.11).
Is the French Defense: Steiner Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.13: the position is roughly equal. 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: Steiner Variation?
C00. 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+).