Chessy
French Defense: Steinitz Attack — White to move
The French Defense: Steinitz Attack starts with an unusual early advance, and the first big lesson is simple: do not panic. Stockfish rates the resulting position -0.19, which means Black is only very slightly better. In other words, you are basically equal out of the opening. Your task in the drill is to pick a sensible plan, stay accurate when Black chooses a main defence, and avoid handing over an easy edge in a position that is still very playable.
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Create a free account →What the position is really about
After 1.e4 e6 2.e5, you have taken space and claimed territory on the kingside, but you have also committed the pawn early. That means your opening is not about chasing tactics immediately; it is about making the most of the space you gained. Black has several ways to challenge you, so your first job is to stay calm and meet the central counterplay in a practical way. The engine’s main reply here is c5, and that is the move the drill is built around.
The engine’s best reply
The strongest move in the position is c5, and the engine continuation given is c5 Nf3 Nc6 c3. That tells you the basic shape of the battle: Black aims to challenge your centre, while you keep your structure solid and develop naturally. If you can handle this reply well, you will usually leave the opening with a sound position and a clear middlegame to play. In this line, piece development matters more than trying to force something too early.
What the game data says
The database shows that this position appears very often, with 5,356,733 games. The results are close enough to confirm that the opening is playable for White, but not enough to suggest an advantage. White wins 45.6%, draws 3.9%, and Black wins 50.5%. So this is not a line where White can expect to steamroll the board; it is a practical opening where accuracy matters and both sides get chances.
The replies you will face most often
Several moves show up again and again, so these are the ones worth being ready for in the drill. The most-played continuation is d5, with 2,549,693 games. Other common choices are d6, Nc6, c5, b6, and c6. Their White scores are close enough to show that you are still in a normal fight, but the positions are not all the same, so your plan should stay flexible and focus on development, central control, and king safety.
Common mistakes to punish
The position has two known inaccuracies that are useful to remember because they reveal what Black should not do. d5 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns; the better move was c5. c6 is also an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns; again, c5 was better. That does not mean you will win on the spot, but it does mean you should understand why challenging the centre in the right way matters so much here.
Results across 5,356,733 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d5 | 2,549,693 | 43.7% |
| d6 | 786,566 | 44.7% |
| Nc6 | 444,884 | 48.7% |
| c5 | 378,052 | 43.7% |
| b6 | 256,563 | 46.4% |
| c6 | 218,722 | 49.5% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the French Defense: Steinitz Attack good for White?
It is playable, but not an opening where White gets a big automatic edge. Stockfish rates the position -0.19, so the position is essentially level with Black only slightly better. If you like steady positions and clear plans, it can be a sensible choice.
What is the main move Black should play here?
The engine’s best move is c5, and the listed continuation is c5 Nf3 Nc6 c3. That is the key reply to know for the drill. If you handle that line well, you are usually still in a normal game.
What do the database results suggest?
Across 5,356,733 games at this exact position, White wins 45.6%, draws 3.9%, and Black wins 50.5%. Those numbers suggest a very practical opening rather than a forcing advantage for either side. You should expect a fight, not a quick knockout.
Which Black replies should I be ready for?
The most-played continuations are d5, d6, Nc6, c5, b6, and c6. Among the known mistakes, d5 and c6 are both marked as inaccuracies, and in both cases c5 was better. In the drill, focus on recognising the main ideas rather than memorising long theory.
How many games feature the French Defense: Steinitz Attack?
Over 5 million Lichess games have reached the French Defense: Steinitz Attack position. White wins 45.6%, Black wins 50.5%, with 3.9% draws — based on real rated games.