Classical: Steinitz 4.e5 is variation 5 of 6 in the French Defence course, a intermediate opening course for Black (ECO C11). It runs 24 moves and begins 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 …. After 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 the knight drops back to d7 and Black hits the chain with ...c5 and ...Nc6. White builds with f4, Nf3 and Be3; Black uses ...Bc5 and a queenside pawn storm while White castles long. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. e4 – White takes the centre and opens lines for the queen and the f1 bishop.
1... e6 – Black prepares ...d5 with the e6 pawn as a solid support.
2. d4 – White builds the classical two-pawn centre.
2... d5 – Black challenges e4 at once.
3. Nc3 – The knight defends e4 and develops.
3... Nf6 – The Classical French: Black adds a second attacker on e4.
4. e5 – The Steinitz: White gains space with tempo on the f6 knight.
4... Nfd7 – The knight retreats to d7, where it supports ...c5 and can later jump to b6 or hit e5.
5. f4 – White reinforces e5 with a pawn, ready for a kingside attack with f5 later.
5... c5 – Black attacks d4, the base of the chain.
6. Nf3 – White defends d4 a second time and supports e5.
6... Nc6 – Black piles up on d4 again.
7. Be3 – White adds a third defender of d4.
7... cxd4 – Black exchanges to open the c-file and invite White's knight to d4, where Black's bishop can trade it off.
8. Nxd4 – White recaptures with the knight, keeping the f4-e5 chain intact.
8... Bc5 – The bishop challenges the strong d4 knight and pins it against the e3 bishop.
The lesson goes on for 8 more moves, each with its explanation.
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