French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation
The Boleslavsky Variation of the Steinitz French arises after 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3, where White props up d4 with the dark bishop. Black keeps hitting d4 and prepares queenside play, while White aims for Qd2, long castling and a kingside push with f5.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3
- ECO
- C11
- Engine
- +0.41 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 959 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 52.3%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Play Qd2 next to connect the bishop and queen and prepare long castling, as both top engine lines show.
- After dxc5, the e5 and f4 pawns stay strong and your pieces flow to d4 and the kingside.
- Look for the f5 break once castled long. It opens lines toward Black's king on the kingside.
- Push h4 in some lines to gain kingside space and keep Black's knights off g5 and f6.
Black
- Develop with 7...Be7 or 7...a6 and keep the pressure on d4 with the c5 pawn and Nc6.
- Recapture on c5 with a piece after dxc5 and aim it at White's king and the e3 bishop.
- Play ...a6 and ...b5 to throw pawns at White's king if it castles queenside.
- ...cxd4 and Nxd4 then ...Bb4 is another plan, pinning the knight on c3.
Plans and pawn structure
White's f4 and e5 pawns give a big kingside space edge. White usually plays Qd2, dxc5 and castles long, then prepares f5 to open lines. Black takes back on c5 with a knight or bishop, plays ...a6 and ...b5, and sends pawns at the White king. ...Qb6 can hit b2 and d4 when the long diagonal is open. Opposite castling makes the game a race, so speed matters more than material.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.41: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.41 7...Be7 8.Qd2 a6 9.dxc5 Nxc5 10.h4
- +0.42 7...a6 8.Qd2 Be7 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.O-O-O
- +0.48 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bb4 9.a3 Bc5 10.h4
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
959 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.3%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As Black, keep developing and do not open the center on White's terms. 7...Be7 and 7...a6 are both good. Avoid an early ...f6 that leaves e6 weak while White's pieces are well placed. Once White castles long, attack at once with ...b5.
Questions
What are the moves of the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation?
The French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation starts 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3. Its ECO code is C11.
Is the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.41 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 959 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.3%. A sharp opposite-castling fight that rewards concrete calculation and quick attacking play from both sides.
What is the main idea of the French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation?
White uses Be3 to hold d4 and prepares Qd2 and long castling, then f5. Black attacks d4 and storms the queenside with ...a6 and ...b5.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is Be7, with a6 and cxd4 close behind. 7...Be7 finishes kingside development and keeps all options of ...a6 and ...cxd4 open.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.