French: Steinitz, Boleslavsky, 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5

French Defense: Steinitz Variation

Definition

The Steinitz Variation of the French Defense arises after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5. Named for Wilhelm Steinitz, the first official World Champion, the line sees White immediately chase the f6-knight and seize space in the centre. In ECO it is catalogued under C11.

Typical Move-order and Key Position

The most frequently reached tabiya is:
where White has a solid pawn chain c2-d4-e5-f4 and Black tries to undermine it with …c5 and …f6.

Strategic Ideas

Space versus Pressure: White gains territory but must guard d4 and e5 from frontal assault.
The Bad French Bishop: Black’s light-square bishop often struggles. Breaks with …c5 or …f6 help activate it.
Minor-piece Battles: The g1-knight usually reaches e2 or h3-f2 to bolster d3. Black’s c6-knight eyes b4, d4 and e5.
Pawn Breaks: White aims for c4 or f5; Black counters with …cxd4 or …f6.

Historical Significance

Steinitz employed the idea of an advanced e-pawn in several openings, preaching that the side with the space advantage should avoid exchanges. In the early 20th century the line became a main battlefield for theorists such as Tarrasch and Nimzowitsch. It retains practical value today because it steers play into strategic channels while keeping tactical opportunities alive.

Illustrative Game

Karpov – Korchnoi, World Championship (Game 7), Baguio 1978
Karpov demonstrated the classical plan of restraining Black’s breaks and slowly expanding on the kingside before striking with f5.

Interesting Facts

Because of its locked pawn chain the variation is one of the few French lines in which opposite-side castling frequently occurs.
Engines once frowned on White’s space-grabbing approach, but modern neural-network evaluations give it a surprisingly healthy score.
The Steinitz structure is a great training ground for learning how to execute and defend against pawn breaks.

Boleslavsky

Definition

The name “Boleslavsky” in chess usually refers to two related concepts: (1) the Boleslavsky Variation of the Sicilian Defense, and (2) the Boleslavsky pawn structure featuring a Black pawn on e6 and d6 confronting White pawns on e4 and d4. Both are attributed to Soviet grandmaster Isaac Boleslavsky (1919-1977), a noted theoretician and Candidate for the World Championship.

The Sicilian Boleslavsky Variation

Move-order: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 e5. Black immediately stakes out the centre, accepting a permanent hole on d5 in exchange for active piece play and a lead in development.

The Boleslavsky Pawn Structure

Characterised by pawns on d6 & e6 (Black) versus d4 & e4 (White):
This structure can arise from many Sicilian systems (Najdorf, Classical, Sveshnikov) and even from the Pirc or French. Its hallmarks are:

A weak square on d5 for White’s knight(s).
Potential pawn breaks …d5 and …d5-d4.
Dynamic tension: if Black manages …d5 under favourable circumstances, the position often becomes equal or better for him; if not, the d5 “hole” can be fatal.

Strategic and Historical Impact

Boleslavsky revolutionised Sicilian theory in the 1940s by showing that willingly creating the d5 hole could be justified by quick piece activity. His analysis laid the groundwork for later systems such as the Najdorf and Scheveningen. Top practitioners include Fischer, Kasparov, and contemporary stars like Caruana.

Famous Example

Fischer – Gligorić, Varna Olympiad 1962
Fischer dominates the d5 outpost and conducts a textbook kingside attack.

Interesting Nuggets

In the 1951 Candidates’ match, Boleslavsky lost a playoff to Bronstein after tying the main match 6-6, missing a chance to play Botvinnik for the title.
The term “Boleslavsky hole” has entered general chess slang to describe any voluntarily created but potentially exploitable square.
Engines evaluate the resulting imbalance as roughly equal, one of the reasons the structure remains fashionable at elite level.

7…cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5

Definition

The move sequence 7…cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 occurs in the Sicilian Defense, Classical (Sozin/Velimirović) system. The full main-line context is: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5. Black captures on d4 at the moment White’s queen has left the a5-e1 diagonal, then develops the bishop to c5, eyeing the f2-square and discouraging O-O-O.

Purpose and Strategic Themes

Counter-pressure on f2: The bishop on c5 pins the knight on d4 and targets a potential mating square.
Time-saving Development: Black often castles short quickly and plays …h6 or …Qb6 to increase pressure.
Choice for White: White must decide between 9. Nb3, 9. O-O-O, or the sharp 9. Nxc6.
Pawn Structure: If the knight retreats to b3, Black may exchange on f2, ruining White’s structure but opening files.

Critical Continuations

9. Nb3 h6 10. Bh4 Bb4 – Black continues to harass the pinned bishop while preparing …g5.
9. O-O-O h6 10. Bh4 O-O – Leads to violent opposite-side attacks.
9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. e5 – The Velimirović idea, sacrificing structure for initiative.

Model Game

Anand – Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 2006
Anand employed 9. O-O-O and sacrificed a pawn for a raging attack, but Topalov’s accurate defence with …e5 and …Be6 eventually prevailed.

Interesting Facts

The line’s modern popularity surged after Kasparov used it to beat Karpov in the 1990 World Championship match (Game 18).
Because 7…cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 sidesteps the highly analysed Poisoned-Pawn Najdorf, it has become a favourite surprise weapon for Najdorf specialists switching move-orders.
Engines suggest the quiet 9. Nb3 as the most resilient reply, yet practical results show sharp castling races score well for both sides.