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Tarrasch Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 · D32–D34

Starting positionWhite to move

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The isolated pawn appears after another exchange

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The idea

Black frees the position with ...c5 and accepts an isolated d5 pawn in return for fast, active piece play on the open files.

Main line: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.O-O O-O

What White wants

  • After the pawn becomes isolated, blockade d4 and trade attacking pieces
  • Use g3 and Bg2 to pressure d5 along the long diagonal
  • Prevent an active ...d4 break before targeting the pawn

What Black wants

  • Use the c- and e-files after central exchanges
  • Develop actively before simplification exposes the isolated pawn
  • Prepare ...d4 or ...Ne4 when the pieces support the breakthrough

Key idea

Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.

The isolated pawn appears after another exchange

Immediately after cxd5 exd5, Black still has a neighbouring pawn on c5. Only after dxc5 and ...Bxc5 does d5 become isolated. That pawn supports c4 and e4, giving Black active squares; exchanges can turn the same space-gainer into an endgame target.

Common mistake

Assuming an isolated pawn must be weak immediately. The example establishes the structure with dxc5 Bxc5; Black needs active pieces and a possible ...d4 break, while White must restrain that activity before exchanges make the pawn easier to attack.

Mistake example: Bxc5.

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.

r1bq1rk1/pp2bppp/2n2n2/2pp4/3P4/2N2NP1/PP2PPBP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 5 9

Analyze this position

Related openings

Queen's Gambit Declined1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 · D30–D69Black holds d5 with ...e6 and accepts a slightly cramped but extremely solid position — the classical answer to 1.d4 for over a century.Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 · D55–D69The textbook QGD: both sides develop along classical lines and the game turns on whether Black can free the position with ...c5 or ...dxc4 at the right moment.Queen's Pawn Opening1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 · D00–D69White stakes a claim in the centre with the queen's pawn and immediately challenges Black's d5 — the solid, positional counterpart to 1.e4.Slav Defense1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 · D10–D19Black defends d5 with the c-pawn instead of the e-pawn, keeping the bishop on c8 free to develop actively to f5.