Ponziani Opening: Steinitz Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
36,433 games: White 45.3% / Draw 5.1% / Black 49.6%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 14,09614K | ||
| 12,31912K | ||
| 8,9208,920 | ||
| 622622 | ||
| 185185 | ||
| 176176 | ||
| 2727 | ||
| 2121 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.06 The position is about equal
Best play: 5. d3 Ne7 6. Nbd2 a6 7. d4 exd4 8. Nxd4 Bd7 9. Be2 Nxd4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Ponziani Opening: Steinitz Variation (ECO C44, Open Games) is a variation of the Ponziani Opening, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. Qa4 f6 (4 moves).
In 36,433 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 45.3%, Black 49.6% and 5.1% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. Bb5, in 39% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Ponziani Opening: Steinitz Variation
5. d3 scores best for White: 51.4%, with White winning 48.5% and Black 45.8% of 8,920 games. The most played, 5. Bb5, scores 49.2% in 14K games, and 5. exd5 scores lowest: 44.5%. Stockfish's first choice is also 5. d3.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Ponziani Opening: Steinitz Variation (C44)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/ponziani-opening-steinitz-variation