e2e4
5
e7e6
5
d2d4
5
d7d5
k The French Defense has been used by every World Champion since Steinitz except Fischer.
10
k Black's main weakness in the French is the light-squared bishop.
8
k In the French, black usually looks for play on the queenside (since that is the direction that his central pawn chain points to).
12
b1c3
k White's has other good options here, 
8
back 1
k such as 3. Nd2 (the Tarrasch Variation)
b1d2
8
back 1
k and 3. e5 (the Advance Variation).
e4e5
8
back 1
k But in this lecture we will use Nc3.  :)
b1c3
6
g8f6
k Black brings out his knight to add an attacker on the e4-pawn.
8
e4e5
k This move is the beginning to the Steinitz Variation.
8
k The other main option for white would be 4. Bg5 (the Classical Variation).
8
k However, the Classical Variation became somewhat unpopular for white after Korchnoj often won with the black pieces in the mid-1980s.
12
f6d7
k Black saves his knight and prepares to push c5 next.
8
f2f4
5
k This solidifies the e5-pawn.  Otherwise, e5 could become very weak after black plays c5 and cxd4.
12
c7c5
k Now both sides battle for the d4 square.
8
g1f3
5
b8c6
5
c1e3
5
k Black has two main options here.
8
k He can either continue with 7...Qb6
5
k or the quieter 7...cxd4.
8
k Let's take a little look at both of these options.
8
d8b6
6
c3a4
k This is the best way to defend b2.
8
b6a5
5
c2c3
k Notice that the queen now protects the knight on a4.
8
c5d4
5
b2b4
k The play becomes a bit wild now.
8
c6b4
5
c3b4
5
f8b4
k Black now has three pawns for a knight.
8
e3d2
5
b4d2
5
k Now white must take back with the knight since Qxd2 would lose the knight on a4.
5
f3d2
5
b7b6
k This move aims to free the light-squared bishop.
8
k After 14. Qb3 or Bd3, white has a slight advantage.
10
k Let's go back and look at the other option, 7...cxd4.
10
back 13
8
c5d4
k As I mentioned earlier, this move is quieter than 7...Qb6.
8
f3d4
k Now black can choose between Bc5 and Nxd4.
8
f8c5
6
d1d2
6
e8g8
6
e1c1
k Chances are now roughly even.
10
back 4
5
k Nxd4 is also fine for black.
c6d4
5
e3d4
5
d7b8
k Black now looks to reposition his other knight to c6.
8
d1d2
4
b8c6
5
e1c1
7
k Now either Qa5 or a6 leads to roughly even chances.
10
k I hope you now have a better understanding of the Steinitz Variation of the French Defense.
10