Steinitz Variation
Encyclopedia
Steinitz Variation is the name given to several chess opening
s adopted or advocated by Wilhelm Steinitz
, the first officially recognized World Chess Champion.
Chess opening
A chess opening is the group of initial moves of a chess game. Recognized sequences of opening moves are referred to as openings as initiated by White or defenses, as created in reply by Black. There are many dozens of different openings, and hundreds of named variants. The Oxford Companion to...
s adopted or advocated by Wilhelm Steinitz
Wilhelm Steinitz
Wilhelm Steinitz was an Austrian and then American chess player and the first undisputed world chess champion from 1886 to 1894. From the 1870s onwards, commentators have debated whether Steinitz was effectively the champion earlier...
, the first officially recognized World Chess Champion.
- Steinitz Variation in the Caro-Kann DefenceCaro-Kann DefenceThe Caro-Kann Defence is a chess opening —a common defense against the King's Pawn Opening characterised by the moves:The usual continuation isfollowed by 3.Nc3 , 3.Nd2 , 3.exd5 , or 3.e5 . The classical variation has gained much popularity...
: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 (also called the Nimzowitsch Variation or the Smyslov Variation) - Steinitz Variation in the French DefenceFrench DefenceThe French Defence is a chess opening. It is characterised by the moves:The French has a reputation for solidity and resilience, though it can result in a somewhat cramped game for Black in the early stages...
: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 - Steinitz Variation in the Petrov Defense: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4
- Steinitz Variation in the Ponziani OpeningPonziani OpeningThe Ponziani Opening is a chess opening that begins with the moves:The opening is now considered inferior to 3.Bb5, the Ruy Lopez, and 3.Bc4, the Italian Game, and is accordingly rarely seen today at any level of play. Black's main responses are 3...Nf6, leading to quiet play, and 3...d5, leading...
: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.Qa4 f6 - Steinitz Defense to the Ruy LopezRuy LopezThe Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Opening or Spanish Game, is a chess opening characterised by the moves:-History:The opening is named after the 16th century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura, who made a systematic study of this and other openings in the 150-page book on chess Libro del...
: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 - Steinitz Variation of the Scotch GameScotch GameThe Scotch Game is a chess opening that begins with the movesWhite aims to dominate the centre by exchanging his d-pawn for Black's e-pawn. Black usually plays 3...exd4, as he has no good way to maintain his pawn on e5...
: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qh4!? - Steinitz Variation in the Two Knights DefenseTwo Knights DefenseThe Two Knights Defense is a chess opening that begins with the moves: in the late 16th century, this line of the Italian Game was extensively developed in the 19th century....
: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Ba4 h6 9.Nh3