Chess opening · ECO C03
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation
In the Tarrasch Variation White defends e4 with 3.Nd2, a knight move that keeps the c-pawn free and takes the sting out of ...Bb4. The knight does block the c1 bishop for a while, so White's development is a little slower. Black usually chooses between ...c5, which often leads to an isolated pawn on d5, and ...Nf6, which tempts White into e5 and a closed center.
- Rank by weighted share
- #111 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2
- 3. Nd2From d2 the knight guards e4, and the c-pawn can still go to c3 to back up d4. With c3 still empty, a bishop arriving on b4 can be met by c3, which hits it and gains time.
The isolated d5 pawn after ...c5
After ...c5 and exd5 exd5, the pawns on c and d often come off and Black is left with a lone pawn on d5. That pawn gives Black open lines and active squares for the pieces, such as c6 and d6 for the knight and bishop. It is also a target, and White's plan is to blockade it, often with a knight on d4, and trade pieces.
Closing the center with ...Nf6
The knight move invites e5, and after ...Nfd7 the game looks like an Advance French where White's knight already sits on d2. White can follow with Bd3, c3 and Ne2, keeping f3 for the other knight, while Black hits d4 with ...c5 and ...Nc6.
Because the d2 knight blocks the c1 bishop, White often has to reroute it before the queenside pieces can fully join in.
Heading for the isolated pawn
3... c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O Nge7 9. Nb3 Bd6
Black has an isolated pawn on d5 and free development. White's knight on b3 can head for d4, the square in front of the pawn, while the bishop on b5 pins the c6 knight that guards d4.
Top replies by rating
c5 tops the bands below 1800. From 1800 up, Nf6 takes the lead, with dxe4 in third place.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1399 | c5 38% | dxe4 33% | Nf6 17% |
| 1400–1599 | c5 44% | Nf6 25% | dxe4 20% |
| 1600–1799 | c5 33% | Nf6 31% | dxe4 24% |
| 1800–1999 | Nf6 41% | c5 26% | dxe4 24% |
| 2000 and up | Nf6 52% | c5 24% | dxe4 15% |
Questions
Why choose Nd2 over Nc3?
Nd2 keeps the c-pawn free and avoids the Winawer pin on c3. Nc3 develops faster and keeps the c1 bishop open, but it allows ...Bb4. The choice is about which structures White wants to face.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.