Classical Variation, Shirov-Anand Variation

The Shirov-Anand Variation departs from the Steinitz Variation of the Classical French with 5. Nce2 instead of the far more common 5. f4. Rather than staking out kingside space at once, White moves the queen's knight off c3 so that the c-pawn can advance and reinforce d4, the base of the pawn chain that Black targets with ...c5 and ...f6. The knight, no longer blocking the c-pawn, can be redeployed toward the kingside. The price is time: the knight has moved twice and White's development lags slightly, so the line aims at a firm center rather than an early initiative.

Black almost always replies 5...c5, striking at d4 immediately. That is also the engine's first choice, and it gives Black the best practical results. Quieter moves such as 5...Be7 and 5...a6 are seen occasionally, but White has scored noticeably better against them. The engine rates the position as level. On Lichess, results are close to even, with White slightly ahead, and the variation remains a relatively uncommon alternative within the Steinitz complex.