Chess Openings·French Defence, Steinitz Defence

Semi-Open Game

French Defence, Steinitz Defence

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

Step through

8 / 8
  1. 1.
  3. 2.
  5. 3.
  7. 4.

Tap a move to jump to that position.

A sturdy set-up that waits for the opponent to overreach. Pawns lock into each other, the lines shut and the game runs long. Of the four central squares, pawns stand on d4 · d5 · e5. Nothing has been captured yet. Neither side has castled yet.

The position

Length
8 moves
To move
White
Legal replies
38
Minor pieces out
White 1 · Black 1
Material
level
Castling rights left
KQkq
FEN
rnbqkb1r/pppn1ppp/4p3/3pP3/3P4/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR w KQkq - 1 5

Move by move

Each move spelled out: which piece went from where to where.

  1. 1.e4White: Pawn e2→e4
  2. 1…e6Black: Pawn e7→e6
  3. 2.d4White: Pawn d2→d4
  4. 2…d5Black: Pawn d7→d5
  5. 3.Nc3White: Knight b1→c3
  6. 3…Nf6Black: Knight g8→f6
  7. 4.e5White: Pawn e4→e5
  8. 4…Nfd7Black: Knight f6→d7

Nearby lines

first 6 moves shared

French Defence, Classical Variation…d5 Nc3 Nf6French Defence, Winawer Variation…Bb4French Defence, Rubinstein Variation…dxe4French Defence, Advance Variation…e5French Defence, Tarrasch Variation…Nd2French Defence, Exchange Variation…exd5 exd5

Common questions

Q. What are the moves of French Defence, Steinitz Defence?

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

Q. Which family does it belong to?

Semi-Open Game — 1.e4 met by anything other than 1…e5.

Q. Who is to move next?

After 8 moves it is White to move.