Three Knights Opening: Steinitz Defense

Three Knights Opening: Steinitz Defense

Definition

The Three Knights Opening: Steinitz Defense is a variation that arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6. By delaying the development of the king’s bishop and instead fianchettoing it on g7, Black adopts a hyper-modern approach named after the first official World Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz. In Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO) it is catalogued under C47.

Typical Move Order

The baseline sequence is:

1. e4  e5
2. Nf3  Nc6
3. Nc3  g6

From here White most commonly plays 4.d4, striking in the center while Black prepares ...Bg7 and possibly ...Nge7 or ...d6. Because the fourth knight (Bc5/Bb4 or Nf6) has not yet appeared, the position retains a flexible, unbalanced character compared with the more familiar Four Knights Game.

Strategic Ideas & Plans

• For Black
  • Fianchetto the dark-squared bishop to g7, exerting long-range pressure on the central light squares.
  • Support the e5 pawn with ...d6 or exchange it if White plays d4xe5.
  • Choose between a King’s-Indian–style setup (…d6, …Nge7, …0-0) or a more open center with …exd4 followed by …d5.
  • Aim for piece play rather than immediate equality; the imbalance can lure White out of booked lines.
• For White
  • Occupy the center quickly with 4.d4 (or 4.Bc4, 4.d3).
  • Exploit the temporary looseness of the e5 pawn when Black delays …d6.
  • Develop rapidly, castle kingside, and consider launching a pawn storm on the fianchettoed bishop (h4-h5) if Black castles short.

Historical Background

Wilhelm Steinitz (World Champion 1886–1894) was renowned for introducing positional ideas and flexible defenses. Although the line bears his name, surviving tournament records show he did not employ exactly this move order, but his advocacy of …g6 setups against e4 openings inspired later theoreticians to attach his name to the variation.

Notable Games

• Capablanca – Chajes, New York 1916
  White adopted 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 and achieved a space advantage, but Capablanca’s smooth endgame conversion illustrated how difficult it can be for Black if counterplay is delayed.
• Short – Kasparov, Manila Olympiad 1992
  Kasparov chose the Steinitz Defense as a surprise weapon. After 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.d3 Nf6, sharp middlegame tactics arose; Kasparov eventually won with dynamic play on the dark squares.

For readers wishing to replay a modern miniature, the following PGN shows a crisp illustration of common ideas:

Example Position

After the most natural moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7, the board looks like this:

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Strengths for Black
  • Sidesteps heavily analyzed Four Knights theory, often catching opponents by surprise.
  • Leads to asymmetrical pawn structures, giving chances to outplay theoretically booked players.
  • The g7-bishop can become a formidable force if the center opens favorably.
• Weaknesses for Black
  • The e5 pawn may become a target before Black plays …d6.
  • Early …g6 weakens dark squares (f6, h6) potentially exploitable by a quick Qd2, Bc4, and h4-h5 plan.
  • White maintains a slight space advantage after the common 4.d4.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Grandmaster Igor Glek, famous for unorthodox openings, used this defense as Black in blitz events, quipping that it was “the Pirc one tempo up.”
• The variation appeared in two correspondence World Championship games (ICCF) where engines initially preferred White; deep analysis later swung evaluations closer to equality, reflecting the line’s hidden resources.
• Because Black plays …g6 before developing the king’s knight, some databases file the line under the Pirc Defense in disguise, though the move order is strictly Three Knights.
• In club play, many opponents transpose into a Four Knights by reflexively playing 4.Bb5, allowing Black to revert to more mainstream theory if desired.