Two Knights Defense, Steinitz Variation
- 1.e4e5
- 2.Nf3Nc6
- 3.Bc4Nf6
- 4.Ng5d5
- 5.exd5Na5
- 6.Bb5+c6
- 7.dxc6bxc6
- 8.Be2h6
- 9.Nh3
383 games
Two Knights Defense line in which White retreats 9. Nh3 instead of 9. Nf3, keeping an extra pawn while Black seeks compensation in development.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Steinitz Variation
The Steinitz Variation is the knight retreat 9. Nh3 in the Polerio main line of the Two Knights Defense, sending the g5-knight to the rim rather than to f3. Fischer revived it in the 1960s and Short in the 1990s, and it is considered as reputable as 9. Nf3. Black, a pawn down, most often replies 9...Bxh3, doubling White's h-pawns. 9...Bc5 and 9...Bd6 are frequent alternatives, and the engine rates the position as balanced.