French Defense: Tarrasch Variation

About this variation

White plays 3. Nd2, which avoids the pin of the Winawer and keeps the c-pawn free. Black often answers with 3...c5 or 3...Nf6.

The Tarrasch Variation is 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2. Putting the knight on d2 rather than c3 avoids the pin of the Winawer and keeps the c-pawn free to support d4 with c3. The price is that the knight blocks the c1 bishop for a while, so White's development is slower and Black can choose from several solid set-ups.

Black's main answers lead to very different games. 3...c5 often gives Black an isolated queen's pawn after 4. exd5 exd5, or open, fluid play after 4...Qxd5. With the isolated pawn, Black has active pieces and open lines, while White aims to blockade the pawn on d5 and trade pieces towards an endgame. 3...Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 gives a closed position like the Advance Variation, in which White builds a big center with c3, f4 and Ndf3. 3...Be7 and 3...Nc6 are flexible waiting moves that try to make White commit first.

Typical plans for White include a kingside attack after the closed lines, using the space on the kingside and a knight on f3, and slow pressure against an isolated pawn in the open lines. Black's typical plan in the open lines is to keep pieces on, play ...Bd6, ...O-O and ...Re8, and use the activity before White can exploit the weakness. Endgames often favor White, so Black should look for the middlegame initiative.

The Tarrasch is a favorite of positional players with White, including Karpov, who used it to great effect in the 1970s and 1980s. It is a safe, flexible choice for anyone who wants to avoid the Winawer without giving up the chance to play for an advantage.

Black players who want to keep things simple often choose 3...Be7 or 3...Nc6, which avoid both the isolated pawn and the cramped closed lines. White players should be ready for each of these set-ups, since the plans differ.

It is one of the main lines of the French Defense.