French Defense Main Line Steinitz Variation
French Defense – Main Line Steinitz Variation
Definition
The Main Line Steinitz Variation of the French Defense arises after the moves 1. e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7.
It belongs to the Classical Variation of the French and is named for the first World Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, who championed the idea of restraining the opponent’s position with pawn chains before launching an attack.
Move Order & Basic Ideas
- 1.e4 e6 – The French Defense.
- 2.d4 d5 – Stakes a claim in the center.
- 3.Nc3 Nf6 – The Classical setup, pressuring e4.
- 4.Bg5 – Pins the f6–knight and hints at an attacking posture.
- 4…Be7 – Black breaks the pin and prepares …dxe4 or …h6.
- 5.e5 – The critical Steinitz thrust, gaining space and forcing the knight away.
- 5…Nfd7 – The most reliable retreat. (Older texts gave 5…Ng8, dubbed the “Nimzowitsch Retreat.”)
Strategic Themes
- Closed Center & Pawn Chains – With pawns on e5 and d4 versus e6 – d5, the position becomes semi-closed. White’s arrow-shaped chain points to the kingside; Black’s counter-play is naturally on the queenside.
- Breaks –
- White: f4–f5 (undermines e6), g4–g5, and sometimes c4.
- Black: c5 (most important), f6 (later), and sometimes b6 – a5–a4.
- Piece Placement – White usually maneuvers Nd1–e3–g4/f5 and Qd2–f4-g3, while Black reroutes Nb8–c6 or Nd7–b6, and plays …b6 and …Ba6 to swap the troublesome light-square bishop.
- King Safety – Both sides often castle kingside, but opposite-side castling and pawn storms (O-O-O for White) are common in sharp sub-lines.
Historical Significance
Steinitz’s principle of “the accumulation of small advantages” is on full display: first limit the opponent (5.e5), then attack the constrained position. The line was heavily analysed in the late-19th and early-20th centuries and became a favorite of players such as Aron Nimzowitsch, Mikhail Botvinnik, and later Anatoly Karpov, who used it as White and Black.
Typical Plans
- For White
- Expand on the kingside: h4–h5, Qg4, Bd3, and long castling.
- Exchange Black’s “French” bishop (c8) with Bxe7 to weaken dark squares.
- Prepare f4–f5 to open lines toward e6 and f7.
- For Black
- Break with …c5 and pile up on d4 (…Nc6, …Qb6, …cxd4).
- Undermine e5 via …f6 when tactically justified.
- Transfer the queen’s bishop to a6 or even b7 after …c5 …Nc6.
Model Mini-Game (Skeleton)
The following miniature shows ideal themes for both sides.
Notice how 12…f6 challenges the pawn chain, while 15…Qxc5 recaptures on c5, keeping pressure on d4. Both sides have chances.
Sample Grandmaster Battle
Karpov vs Korchnoi, World Championship 1978 (Game 7)
Karpov employed the Steinitz Variation to squeeze a small but lasting spatial
edge and eventually converted in a technical endgame, illustrating the line’s
potential for long-term pressure.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The retreat 5…Nfd7 was once considered
too passive
. Modern engines reveal it is rock-solid, whereas the flashy 5…Ng8 now scores worse. - In the 1990s, the line enjoyed a renaissance thanks to players such as Viktor Korchnoi and Yuriy Dokhoian, who found new resources for Black involving an early …a6 and …c5.
- The pawn structure often transposes into a Closed Tarrasch-style French if White later plays c3, giving the variation extraordinary flexibility.
- Because both kings can remain uncastled while pawn storms loom,
club players nicknamed it the
French with mutual hand-grenades.
Key Takeaways
- The Main Line Steinitz Variation is the most classical closed-center system of the French; mastery of its pawn breaks (…c5, f4-f5) is essential.
- Plan over tactics: the slow maneuvering phase is where most games are decided.
- Suitable for players who enjoy strategic battles with occasional tactical eruptions.