Chessy
French Defense: Steiner Variation as White
After 1.e4 e6 2.c4, you reach a quiet but flexible starting point in the French Defense: Steiner Variation. The position is completely balanced, so this is not about memorising a forcing trap. It is about choosing the right central plan and being ready for Black’s most common replies. In the drill below, you will see the engine’s best move and learn how to handle the moves Black actually plays most often.
Play the French Defense: Steiner Variation against the engine
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill now and practise the key replies move by move. Create a free account to track your progress and revisit the line anytime.
Create a free account →A level position, so use simple principles
Stockfish rates this +0.03, which is a tiny edge for White. That means the position is dead level and neither side is better out of the opening.
In positions like this, clean development and good central play matter more than trying to force tactics. Keep your position flexible, watch the centre, and be ready to react to Black’s first useful break.
The move the engine likes most
The engine’s best move here is d5, continuing d5 cxd5 exd5 exd5.
That is the main tabiya to know in this line. In the drill, focus on understanding the structure that follows rather than hunting for a one-move trick. When the centre opens, piece activity and timing matter a lot.
What the database says about real games
This exact position has been played in 2,203,896 games on Lichess, so it is not some rare curiosity. The practical results are balanced: White wins 50.9%, draws 3.8%, and Black wins 45.3%.
The move most often seen here is d5, with 972,892 games and a White score of 50.8%. The other common replies are c5, c6, b6, d6, and Nf6, so you should expect Black to choose one of those central or queenside setups.
The replies to know first
If Black chooses c5, c6, or d5, you are in the most common territory and can keep playing normal chess. The position stays balanced, so do not rush.
The moves b6, d6, and Nf6 are specifically flagged as inaccuracies. b6 loses about 0.9 pawns, while d6 and Nf6 each lose about 0.7 pawns, with d5 being the better move in each case. That makes the drill especially useful for learning how to punish slow or imprecise development.
Results across 2,203,896 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d5 | 972,892 | 50.8% |
| c5 | 251,253 | 49.3% |
| c6 | 245,408 | 50.5% |
| b6 | 136,192 | 49.3% |
| d6 | 120,132 | 51.2% |
| Nf6 | 106,833 | 51.9% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the French Defense: Steiner Variation good for White?
It is completely playable, but it is not an opening where White gets a big early edge. The engine calls it dead level, so your goal is to play soundly and use better plans rather than expect an immediate advantage.
What is the best move for Black here?
The engine’s best move is d5. In the resulting continuation, the position stays principled and central, which is why that move is the one to learn first in the drill.
Which Black replies should I expect most often?
The most-played continuations are d5, c5, c6, b6, d6, and Nf6. Those are the moves worth drilling, because they cover the vast majority of practical games from this exact position.
Which replies are mistakes in this position?
b6, d6, and Nf6 are all marked as inaccuracies. Each one is worse than d5, so if you face one of them you should know you are getting a chance to respond well.
How many games feature the French Defense: Steiner Variation?
Over 2 million Lichess games have reached the French Defense: Steiner Variation position. White wins 50.9%, Black wins 45.3%, with 3.8% draws — based on real rated games.