Chessy
French Defense: Steinitz Attack with 3...b6 – Playing as White
After 1.e4 e6, 2.e5 is the direct Steinitz Attack — White immediately grabs space and challenges Black to find a plan. When Black answers with 2...b6, aiming to fianchetto the light-squared bishop and chip away at your centre, you reach a position where Stockfish gives +0.34, a small edge in your favour. That means you are slightly better from the start, but only if you know how to handle what comes next. Below you'll find the key continuations, the most popular replies Black tries, and the mistakes to watch for so you can turn that early plus into a real advantage.
Play the French Defense: Steinitz Attack: b6 against the engine
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Now it's your turn. Try the interactive drill below to practise the French Steinitz Attack with b6 — the engine adapts to your moves and shows you where to find
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The pawn on e5 is the heart of this position. It cramps Black's kingside, restricts the f8-bishop, and gives you a comfortable space advantage. Black's ...b6 prepares ...Bb7, pressuring your e5-pawn indirectly. Your job is to support e5 with pieces — typically Nf3 and, later, maybe f4 — while developing naturally. The engine's best line is 3...Bb7 4.Nf3 c5 5.Nc3, where White keeps the centre solid and completes development. Notice that Black's queen's bishop is doing something useful, but your lead in development and central control keep you in the driver's seat.
The Engine's Answer: How to Meet 3...Bb7
Black's most common move — played in 417,149 games — is 3...Bb7, fianchettoing the bishop right away. The engine recommends 4.Nf3, developing the knight and reinforcing e5. After 4...c5 (Black's typical follow-up), you play 5.Nc3, bringing out your other knight and increasing pressure on the centre. From here, Black's 5...cxd4 is the usual move, and you can recapture with 6.Nxd4, maintaining your space advantage and a healthy pawn structure. White scores 45.9% from this line — solid, though Black's active counterplay means you need to stay alert.
The Statistics: What Black Actually Plays
From the position after 1.e4 e6 2.e5 b6 3.d4, Black has several options beyond the main 3...Bb7: - 3...d6 (17,362 games): Black hits the centre immediately. White scores 48.3% here. This often transposes to lines where ...dxe5 leaves you with a comfortable centre. - 3...g6 (8,195 games): A fianchetto of the dark-squared bishop. White scores 50.5% — the best winning percentage against any move here — but the engine flags it as a mistake. - 3...c5 (7,443 games): Black attacks your d4-pawn. White scores 48.2%. - 3...d5 (6,901 games): Blockading the centre. White scores 50.8%, your second-best result. - 3...Nc6 (5,905 games): Developing with a threat to d4. White scores 49.7%. Across all 490,922 games at this position, White wins 46.4%, draws 3.7%, and Black wins 49.9% — so while your engine edge is real, practical results are tight. The drill below will sharpen your play.
Three Black Mistakes You Can Punish
The engine identifies several Black replies as inaccuracies that lose about 0.6–0.7 pawns compared to the best move 3...Bb7. These are opportunities for you to seize a bigger advantage: 3...g6: This inaccuracy loses roughly 0.6 pawns. Black's dark-squared bishop looks active, but it doesn't challenge your centre in a useful way. Your plan: develop with Nf3, keep the pawn on e5 strong, and prepare to meet ...Bg7 with a timely f4 or Be3, keeping your centre unshakeable. 3...c5: An inaccuracy costing about 0.7 pawns. Black strikes at d4, but your reply 4.c3 (or even the immediate 4.Nf3) maintains the pawn chain. If Black ever takes on d4, you recapture and enjoy a classic French pawn centre. 3...d5: Also loses about 0.6 pawns. Black closes the centre early, which is exactly what you want as the Steinitz player. You keep your space on e5, develop pieces, and plan breaks like f4 or even a future g4 to prise open lines on the kingside. None of these moves are losing for Black, but they give you a cleaner path to a comfortable plus.
Results across 490,922 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bb7 | 417,149 | 45.9% |
| d6 | 17,362 | 48.3% |
| g6 | 8,195 | 50.5% |
| c5 | 7,443 | 48.2% |
| d5 | 6,901 | 50.8% |
| Nc6 | 5,905 | 49.7% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move for Black in the French Steinitz Attack with 3...b6?
According to the engine, Black's best move is 3...Bb7, fianchettoing the bishop to pressure your e5-pawn. This is also by far the most popular move, appearing in over 417,000 games. Other moves like 3...g6, 3...c5, and 3...d5 are inaccuracies that give White a larger edge.
Is the French Steinitz Attack good for White?
Yes, Stockfeeval uates the position at +0.34 in White's favour — a small but clear edge. You have extra space in the centre thanks to the e5 pawn, and Black's queen's bishop often ends up misplaced after you defend correctly. However, the practical results show Black wins 49.9% of games, so the advantage requires accurate play.
How should White respond to 3...g6 in the Steinitz Attack?
The engine considers 3...g6 an inaccuracy that loses about 0.6 pawns. White should develop normally with moves like Nf3 and Be3, keep the centre intact, and prepare to meet ...Bg7 with f4 or a queenside expansion. Your e5 pawn gives you a lasting space advantage, and Black's king is slightly exposed on g7.
What is White's winning percentage after 1.e4 e6 2.e5 b6 3.d4?
From over 490,000 games in the Lichess database, White wins 46.4%, draws 3.7%, and Black wins 49.9%. While your engine evaluation is favourable (+0.34), the results are close because Black has active counterplay and White's edge is small. The drill below will help you convert that theoretical plus into more wins.