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French Defense: Tarrasch Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 · C03–C09

Part of French Defense

Starting positionWhite to move

0 / 14

The knight leaves the c-pawn mobile

  1. 1.
  2. 2.
  3. 3.
  4. 4.
  5. 5.
  6. 6.
  7. 7.

The idea

White develops the knight to d2 to avoid the Winawer pin, keeping the c-pawn mobile and aiming for a solid, flexible centre.

Main line: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Ngf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 Bd6 7.O-O Ne7

What White wants

  • Avoid the ...Bb4 pin and build the centre with c3 and Bd3
  • Trade on d5 or keep the tension depending on Black's setup
  • Play for a small, safe advantage without theoretical risk

What Black wants

  • Use ...c5 to challenge d4 before White finishes developing
  • Develop ...Nc6, ...Bd6 and ...Ne7 and castle
  • After ...cxd4, use the isolated d5 pawn's activity before exchanges make it vulnerable

Key idea

Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.

The knight leaves the c-pawn mobile

Nd2 blocks the c1 bishop temporarily but keeps c3 available for a pawn. A bishop check on b4 can be met with c3 rather than a pin on a c3 knight. White accepts slower coordination in return for more choice over the central structure.

Common mistake

Leaving the d2 knight and c1 bishop uncoordinated. White needs a route such as Ngf3 and a timely central exchange to connect the pieces; playing only to defend pawns can give Black comfortable development and an active ...c5 break.

Mistake example: O-O.

Representative position

The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.

r1bqk2r/pp2nppp/2nb4/1Bpp4/3P4/5N2/PPPN1PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq - 6 8

Analyze this position

Related openings

French Defense1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 · C00–C19Black challenges e4 with ...d5 on move two, accepting a slightly cramped position behind a solid pawn chain in exchange for a genuine fight for the centre.French Defense: Classical Variation1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 · C11–C14White pins the f6 knight with Bg5, then advances e5. In this main line, Bxe7 exchanges the dark-squared bishops before both sides prepare their pawn-chain plans.French Defense: Advance Variation1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 · C02White pushes e5 immediately, fixing the pawn chain before Black can develop and turning the game into a positional fight over d4 and the bad bishop on c8.French Defense: Exchange Variation1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Nf6 · C01White exchanges on d5, opening the centre and creating a symmetrical pawn structure. Both bishops can develop freely, and the game depends on piece placement and timely central breaks.French Defense: Steinitz Variation1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 · C11–C14The classical French: White pushes e5, Black drops the knight back to d7 and immediately attacks d4 with ...c5, and the fight centres on the pawn chain.French Defense: Winawer Variation1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 · C15–C19Black pins the knight on c3 and hands over the bishop pair for doubled white c-pawns and a permanent attack on the queenside — the most double-edged French.