Steinitz attack, played by Steinitz himself

1. e4 e6 2. e5 !?

Wacky, but it worked for Steinitz. (;

I once devised my own similar system with 2. e5 !? and then supporting it as much as possible with 3.f4 and 4.Nf3 etc.

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@TheSecretPatzer

And which other opening gives you a chance to capture en passant already on move 3. (;

@Panagrellus how does it give you a chance to capture en passant already on move 3.

@TheSecretPatzer

2. ... d5 3. exd6 e.p.

e.g.

Lol I play this variation in bullet games frequently

@Panagrellus ah. I see.

My "system" involved holding e5 for as long as possible. In proper games, I came unstuck!

@TheSecretPatzer

What I find spooky about the way Steinitz played this: He often pushes his kingside pawns (f4, g3) - and then castles short.
I don't know how he gets away with this. As the patzer I am, I would go down instantly after giving Black an open flank like this...

e.g.

I guess 13.Ne3 protects his dark square diagonal towards his castled king. That and 16.Bishop to d4.