French Defense: Steinitz Variation

Definition

The Steinitz Variation is a branch of the French Defense that appears after the moves
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5.
With 4.e5 White advances the king-pawn to gain space, cramp the black knight on f6, and establish the characteristic pawn chain e5–d4 versus e6–d5. Named after Wilhelm Steinitz, the first official World Champion, the line embodies his strategic teachings of space and restriction.

Typical Move Order & Tabia

The “tabia” (standard starting position) of the variation arises after:

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

The pawn chain fixes the center; Black must decide how to undermine it, most often with 4…Nfd7 or 4…Ne4.

Strategic Themes

Space & Cramp – White’s e5-pawn cramps the f6-knight and restricts the natural …c5 break.
Pawn Breaks – Black’s main counterplay revolves around …c5 and …f6. White looks for c4, f4-f5, or sometimes g4 to expand on the kingside.
Piece Placement – White often castles queenside, places the dark-squared bishop on d3, and maneuvers the knights to f3 and e2/g3.
Dynamic Imbalance – Closed center → slow manoeuvring; once the center opens the game can become very tactical.
Minor-Piece Tension – The “bad French bishop” on c8 can become active via …b6, …Ba6, or …c4.

Main Black Replies

4…Nfd7 (Classical) – Black retreats, preparing …c5. Continuation: 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7.
4…Ne4 (Shirov–Anand line) – Immediate counterattack; after 5.Nxe4 dxe4 6.c3, Black holds the e4-pawn and aims for …c5.
4…c5?! (Petrosian Gambit) – An immediate break. White can accept with 5.exf6 Qxf6 or decline with 5.Nf3.

Historical Significance

Steinitz championed the idea that positional advantages, such as space and strong pawn structures, could justify aggressive expansion. His ideas were radical in the late 19th century, countering the prevailing romantic style of sacrificial attacks at all costs. The variation became a laboratory for studying blocked-center strategy, later adopted by giants like Capablanca, Botvinnik, and Korchnoi.

Illustrative Mini-Game

A famous attacking win for White:
Botvinnik – Kmoch, Amsterdam 1936

While lengthy, the game is often cited for illustrating how White’s space advantage can blossom into a direct kingside attack once the position opens.

Plans for Each Side

White
- Castle long and launch a pawn storm on the kingside with g4, h4-h5, f5.
- Maintain the e5-pawn; support it with c3 and f4.
- Use the d4-square for a knight (often on f3-d4-b5).
Black
- Break with …c5; sometimes sacrifice a pawn for activity (…cxd4, …f6).
- Improve the “bad” bishop via …b6 & …Ba6 or …Bd7–b5.
- Target the d4-pawn after exchanges in the center.

Famous Encounters

Kasparov vs. Korchnoi, Brussels 1986 – Kasparov’s powerful pawn storm forced resignation on move 23.
Ivanchuk vs. Short, Paris Rapid 1997 – a model of the 4…Ne4 line where Black achieved full equality.
So vs. Caruana, Saint Louis 2020 – modern top-level test featuring nuanced manoeuvring and a late …f6 break.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

Although named after Steinitz, the move 4.e5 was first played by Russian master Alexander Petrov in 1844, four decades before Steinitz popularised it.
World Champion Tigran Petrosian loved the French but avoided the Steinitz with Black because he felt “the pawn on e5 stares at me like an accusing eye.”
In correspondence chess, engines show that the bold pawn sacrifice 4…c5!? scores surprisingly well, reviving a line once thought dubious.