Chessy
Three Knights Opening: Steinitz Defense as Black
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6, you are already facing a position where White has the more comfortable game. That makes this drill especially useful: your job is not to “equalise by force”, but to know the right response and avoid drifting into a worse endgame or passive middlegame. The engine’s top choice is clear, and the database shows which White moves are most common. Use the drill below to practise meeting this setup confidently.
Play the Three Knights Opening: Steinitz Defense against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill now and practise the right reply as Black. Create a free account to track your progress and come back whenever you want.
Create a free account →What this position is asking you to do
The key issue in the Three Knights Opening: Steinitz Defense is that White moves first in the resulting position and can choose a central plan at once. Stockfish rates this +1.04, a clear advantage for White. That means you are already under pressure, so your practical aim is to meet the centre head-on and stop White from building an easy initiative. The best engine move here is d4, and that is the move this lesson is built around.
Why d4 is the critical answer
The engine’s best move here is d4, continuing d4 exd4 Nxd4 Bg7. That simple central break fits the position’s logic: challenge White immediately, open lines, and keep your pieces active. If you play more slowly, White can keep the more pleasant game. In an opening where the evaluation already leans against you, choosing the most principled central reply matters even more than usual.
What the database says White usually does
Across 303,544 games at this exact position, White wins 50.6%, draws 4.2%, and Black wins 45.3%. The most-played continuations are Bc4 (102,775 games, White scores 50.4%), d4 (80,568 games, White scores 54.5%), Bb5 (64,029 games, White scores 50.0%), d3 (25,235 games, White scores 45.9%), a3 (6,877 games, White scores 49.4%), and Be2 (5,396 games, White scores 46.9%). In other words, White has several natural developing moves, but the central push is the most testing one.
The moves to be ready for
Three White moves are specifically flagged as mistakes or inaccuracies here, and they all point back to the same lesson: meet White’s development with active play in the centre. Bc4 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.8 pawns, with d4 better. Bb5 is also an inaccuracy and loses about 1.0 pawns, again with d4 better. d3 is a mistake and loses about 1.1 pawns, with d4 better. If you know that d4 is the key answer, you are already aiming at the move the engine wants most.
Results across 303,544 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bc4 | 102,775 | 50.4% |
| d4 | 80,568 | 54.5% |
| Bb5 | 64,029 | 50.0% |
| d3 | 25,235 | 45.9% |
| a3 | 6,877 | 49.4% |
| Be2 | 5,396 | 46.9% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the main idea of the Three Knights Opening: Steinitz Defense for Black?
The main idea is to answer White’s first chance in the position with active central play. Here the engine recommends d4, and the evaluation shows White is already better, so Black needs a direct and principled reaction.
Is the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 good for Black?
No. Stockfish rates it +1.04, which means White has a clear, lasting advantage. You should treat it as an opening where Black must play accurately to avoid a difficult game.
What is the best move for Black in this position?
The engine’s best move here is d4, continuing d4 exd4 Nxd4 Bg7. That is the move the drill is designed to help you remember and play confidently.
Which White moves should I expect most often?
The most-played continuations are Bc4, d4, Bb5, d3, a3, and Be2. Among those, Bc4, Bb5, and d3 are specifically marked as inaccuracies or a mistake, and d4 is the most challenging practical try.
How many games feature the Three Knights Opening: Steinitz Defense?
Over 303K Lichess games have reached the Three Knights Opening: Steinitz Defense position. White wins 50.6%, Black wins 45.3%, with 4.2% draws — based on real rated games.