Chess Openings Lab
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French Defense: Steinitz Attack

The Steinitz Attack is 1.e4 e6 2.e5, where White pushes the e-pawn before supporting it with d4. Black gets to attack the lonely e5 pawn with ...d6 and ...Nc6, while White hopes to cramp Black and keep the pawn alive.

Moves
1.e4 e6 2.e5
ECO
C00
Engine
−0.38 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
4,653 games in our lichess sample
White scores
48.2%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Support e5 with Nf3 and c3, so d4 can follow and build a proper chain.
  • After ...d6, capturing on d6 with exd6 avoids losing a pawn, as all three engine lines show.
  • Do not chase pawns with the queen too early. Develop the bishops to d3 and e2 first.
  • Keep the d4 square for a pawn, not a piece, so the center stays solid.

Black

  • Play 2...c5 first. It stops d4 and leaves White with a weak e5 pawn.
  • Follow with ...Nc6 and ...d6 to attack e5 from three sides.
  • After exd6, recapture with the bishop or take back toward the center, depending on the line.
  • 2...d6 3.Nf3 dxe5 4.Nxe5 Bd6 is also fine: trade the active knight and develop easily.

Plans and pawn structure

Because d4 is not played yet, White's e5 pawn lacks support. Black aims to break it with ...d6 and develop fast with ...Nc6 and ...Nf6. White usually trades on d6 and ends with an open center where Black has slightly better development. If White gets c3 and d4 in without losing time, the position becomes a normal French advance structure. The fight is about whether White can support e5 in time.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.38: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.38 2...c5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.c3 d6 5.exd6
  2. −0.21 2...d6 3.Nf3 dxe5 4.Nxe5 Bd6 5.Qh5
  3. −0.13 2...Nc6 3.Nf3 d6 4.exd6 cxd6 5.d4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

4,653 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.2%.

under 120050.3%
1200–159948.0%
1600–199946.7%
2000 and up42.7%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As Black, play 2...c5 and stop d4. Then hit e5 with ...Nc6 and ...d6. Do not push ...d5 automatically, because that gives White the Advance French structure the early e5 was trying to reach.

Questions

What are the moves of the French Defense: Steinitz Attack?

The French Defense: Steinitz Attack starts 1.e4 e6 2.e5. Its ECO code is C00.

Is the French Defense: Steinitz Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.38 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 4,653 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.2%. An early surprise that suits White players who like to cramp the opponent, but Black is comfortable after ...c5 and ...d6.

What is the main idea of the French Defense: Steinitz Attack?

White grabs space with e5 before d4. Black's best answer is to undermine that pawn with ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...d6 before it gets support.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is c5, with d6 and Nc6 close behind. 2...c5 stops d4 and leaves White's e5 pawn without its best defender.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.