Caissa Codex
Tree path 6 levels French Defense › Normal Variation › French Defense › Paulsen Variation › French Defense: Classical Variation › Steinitz Variation
  1. Caissa Codex
  2. French Defense C00
  3. Normal Variation C00
  4. French Defense C00
  5. Paulsen Variation C10
  6. French Defense: Classical Variation C11
  7. Steinitz Variation C11 you are here
C11

French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation

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Overview

French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation (ECO C11) is a variation of French Defense: Classical Variation, reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 — 4 moves.

In 4,120,111 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.0%, Black 47.2% and 4.8% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 4…Nfd7, in 93% of those games.

It branches into 5 named variations; the most played are French Defense: Steinitz Variation and French Defense: Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation. In all, 7 named lines continue from it.

ECO code
C11
Group
Open Games (C)
Length
4 moves
Parent
French Defense: Classical Variation
Direct variations
5
Total in subtree
7

Generated from the data: the Lichess opening list and opening explorer. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

4,120,111 games · White 48.0% / Draw 4.8% / Black 47.2%

MovesGamesW / D / B
Nfd73,828,424
Ne4167,584
Ng8115,756
Be72,934
Bb41,692
c51,507
Qd7797
Ng4454

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:36:41

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Variations (5)

Related variations at the same level

Sister lines that share the same parent French Defense: Classical Variation:

Show all 7 sub-variations (full subtree)

https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-classical-variation-steinitz-variation