French Defense, Steinitz Variation

The Steinitz Variation begins 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7. Nfd7 means that the knight from f6 retreats to d7. White advances the e-pawn to control more squares in Black's territory and drive the knight away from f6. White's center forms a pawn chain, a group of pawns protecting one another diagonally. The e5-pawn is usually supported by d4, so d4 is an important base of the chain.

The sequence is written in algebraic notation: squares such as e4 combine a column letter and row number; N means knight, B bishop, R rook, and Q queen; pawn moves normally show their destination, x marks a capture, and + marks check. Moves are read in pairs, White first and Black second; dots before a move shown alone indicate Black's turn.

A central continuation is 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3. The f4-pawn reinforces e5 and helps White preserve central control. However, White's knight on c3 temporarily blocks the c-pawn, which could support d4 in other French structures. White must therefore defend the center with pieces and choose carefully when to open it.

Recurring plans

• White brings the pieces out behind the pawn chain, protects d4, and looks for an attack toward the black king or a favorable central advance.
• Black strikes d4 with ...c5 and prepares ...f6 to attack e5 directly. These pawn breaks are advances that challenge a pawn chain and open paths for the pieces.

The Steinitz resembles the Advance Variation because both place a white pawn on e5. The difference is that White has already played Nc3 and Black has played ...Nf6 before the advance. That detail changes the available squares, the defense of d4, and the timing of the pawn breaks. The Guimard Defense begins with 3.Nd2 and gives White a different relationship between the knight and c-pawn.