ECO C11 · French Defense

French Defense: Steinitz Variation

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

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

6. Ne2+0.56

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Steinitz Variation (C11), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Ne2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.56).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.566. Ne2 c5 7. c3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Nc3 f6 10. Bd3 Nc6
  2. +0.236. Nb1 c5 7. c3 f6 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. O-O Bd6
  3. +0.216. h4 c5 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. Nexd4 Nc6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bd3 Qc7

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. a3
  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Ne2
  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3
  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. dxc5 Nc6

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Steinitz Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Ne2 for White, continuing c5 7. c3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Nc3 f6 10. Bd3 Nc6. White is slightly better (+0.56). The next best moves are 6. Nb1 (+0.23) and 6. h4 (+0.21).
Is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.56: 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: 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+).