Chess openings / French Defense

French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation

French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation (C11) starts 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3. In 8,299 games between strong players, White wins 42%, 26% are drawn and Black wins 32%; the most played move is 7…cxd4 (34%).

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1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3

ECO
C11
Games between strong players
8,299
To move
Black
42%26%32%

White wins, draws and Black wins, from this position.

What strong players play next

The moves played most from this position in over-the-board broadcasts and the Lichess Elite Database, how often, and how the games ended.

MovePlayedResultsLeads to
7…cxd434% (2,840)37%36%27%–
7…a633% (2,766)43%25%32%–
7…Be717% (1,417)44%18%38%–
7…Qb610% (823)54%33%–
7…Rb83% (282)42%15%43%–
7…h61% (94)48%42%–

Where it comes from and where it goes

Branches from French Defense: Steinitz Variation 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3

More French Defense lines

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