The Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack is a variation of the French Defense, catalogued as ECO C11. The line runs 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Qg4, reaching the position shown below after 9 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4 and e5, Black on d5). Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is Black to move after five moves.
On the French Defense generally: A solid defense where Black builds a strong pawn chain. Leads to strategic middlegames with clear plans.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
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The Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack goes 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Qg4. It is a variation of the French Defense and is catalogued as ECO C11.
The Steinitz Variation, Gledhill Attack is ECO C11. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the French Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Qg4 at -0.22 at depth 18, which is balanced. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4 and e5, Black on d5). Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is Black to move.