Caissa Codex
C11

French Defense: Steinitz Variation 5…Nfd7 6. Ne2

Chess diagram: French Defense: Steinitz Variation after 6. Ne2

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Statistics from Lichess

12,683 games: White 48.6% / Draw 5.1% / Black 46.3%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
11,38811K
578578
239239
174174
8585
4747
4040
4040

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.52 White is slightly better

Best play: 6... c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. g3 cxd4 9. cxd4 f6 10. exf6 Nxf6 11. Bg2

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

French Defense: Steinitz Variation (ECO C11, Open Games) is a variation of the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 a6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Ne2 (6 moves).

In 12,683 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.6%, Black 46.3% and 5.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…c5, in 90% of those games.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 6. Ne2, the position after French Defense: Steinitz Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “French Defense: Steinitz Variation (C11)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-steinitz-variation-3

https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-steinitz-variation-3