French: Steinitz, Boleslavsky, 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qb6
French: Steinitz
Definition
The Steinitz Variation of the French Defense is reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7. Named after the first World Champion Wilhelm Steinitz, it is the cornerstone of the “Classical” French, characterised by the advance of the e-pawn and Black’s retreat of the f6-knight to d7.
How it is Used in Chess
Players choose the Steinitz when they desire a complex, closed centre in which long-term manoeuvring and pawn breaks decide the battle. Typical continuations include:
- 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 – the main road to the Boleslavsky.
- 5. Nf3 c5 6. Be3 – a quieter approach.
- 5. Qh5 – the aggressive “Steinitz Attack”.
Strategic Significance
- Space vs. Breaks: White gains space on the kingside; Black’s plan is to undermine the pawn chain with …c5 and …f6.
- Piece Manoeuvres: Typical routes are Nb1–d2–f3–g5 for White and Nf8–g6 or Be7–g5 for Black.
- Closed Centre Dynamics: Because the centre is fixed, flank pawn storms (h-, g-, and a-pawns) and piece rerouting dominate the middlegame.
Historical Notes
The move 4…Nfd7 first appeared in Steinitz’s matches of the 1870s. It was revived by Nimzowitsch in the 1920s, analysed deeply by Isaac Boleslavsky in the 1940s, and became a mainstay in Korchnoi’s world-title matches against Karpov (1978, 1981).
Illustrative Example
In Korchnoi – Karpov, World Championship 1978 (game 5) Black equalised comfortably with the Steinitz and later won after 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 Qb6.
Interesting Facts
- The apparently backward move 4…Nfd7 embodies Steinitz’s “accumulation of small advantages” philosophy—retreat today to strike tomorrow.
- Mikhail Tal once quipped that he liked the variation because “everything is already hanging on move five”.
Boleslavsky (in the French Defense)
Definition
The Boleslavsky Variation is a branch of the Steinitz French arising after
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3.
ECO code: C11.
It is named for the Soviet grandmaster and theoretician Isaac Boleslavsky, who pioneered its strategic depth in the 1940s.
Usage and Typical Ideas
White’s 7.Be3 protects the d4 pawn, connects the rooks, and eyes g5, while Black must decide how to generate counter-play:
- 7…Qb6 – putting immediate pressure on d4 and b2.
- 7…Be7 – quietly completing development.
- 7…cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 – exchanging a pair of pieces to ease the cramped position.
Strategic Themes
- The d4 Outpost: If Black trades on d4, the resulting isolated pawn can become either a weakness or a dynamic trump.
- Minor-Piece Battles: A typical “good vs. bad” French bishop fight develops—Black’s light-squared bishop often remains hemmed in until the …f6 break liberates it.
- Kingside Race: White may castle long and launch g4–h4, while Black seeks queenside play with …Qb6, …cxd4, and later …f6.
Historical Significance
Boleslavsky used this line to defeat strong contemporaries such as Smyslov (USSR Ch., 1941). The variation gained modern traction through the games of Alexander Morozevich and Étienne Bacrot.
Example Game
Smyslov – Boleslavsky, USSR Championship 1941:
Did You Know?
- Isaac Boleslavsky’s daughter Tatiana married David Bronstein—forming one of the most famous chess families.
- The same concept of leaving a “hole” on d5 is known as the Boleslavsky hole in the Sicilian and King’s Indian structures.
7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qb6 (Steinitz–Boleslavsky Branch)
Definition & Move Order
This concrete sequence occurs in the Boleslavsky Variation:
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qb6.
Purpose of the Moves
- 7…cxd4: Eases Black’s cramped centre and opens the c-file.
- 8.Nxd4: White recaptures while centralising a knight.
- 8…Qb6: A double-attack on d4 and b2; encourages White to weaken the queenside or enter simplifying lines.
Strategic Nuances
- Isolated or Hanging Pawns: If White responds with 9.Qd2, exchanges often lead to IQP positions where activity outweighs structure.
- Queenside Expansion: …Qxb2 is sometimes possible, but Black must watch the a1–rook battery and the safety of the queen.
- Timing of …f6: After relieving tension on d4, Black frequently plays …f6 to challenge e5 at a more favourable moment.
Critical Continuations
- 9. Qd2 Qxb2 10. Rb1 Qa3 – the “Poisoned Pawn”; theory shows it is playable for both sides.
- 9. Ncb5 Bc5 10. c3 a6 11. Nd6+ Bxd6 12. exd6 – leads to sharp play where material is balanced by passed pawns.
- 9. Qd2 Bc5 10. Na4 Bxd4 11. Nxb6 Bxb6 – simplifies to an equal end-game.
Historical & Practical Notes
The line was popularised in the late 1990s by French specialists like Viktor Korchnoi, Pavel Tregubov, and computer engines that appreciated Black’s dynamic equality. A famous modern illustration is Radjabov – Anand, Wijk aan Zee 2006, where Anand used 8…Qb6 to neutralise White and later win.
Illustrative Mini-Line
Trivia
- Because the queen travels to b6 and sometimes to a3, French aficionados jokingly refer to this as “the French queen’s promenade”.
- Engines evaluate the immediate pawn grab 9…Qxb2 as roughly equal—human grandmasters once considered it hazardous.