Chess Openings Lab
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French Defense: Tarrasch Variation

The Tarrasch Variation is 3.Nd2, where White defends e4 with the queen knight on d2 instead of c3. This avoids the pin ...Bb4 and keeps c3 free for the c-pawn, while Black chooses between the open ...c5 and the closed ...Nf6 setups.

Moves
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2
ECO
C03
Engine
+0.20 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
6,258 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.4%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Keep c3 free so the c-pawn can support d4 when Black hits it with ...c5.
  • Bring the king knight to f3 with Ngf3 and keep the d2 knight flexible for f3, b3 or e4.
  • Against 3...c5, the exchange exd5 can leave Black with an isolated d-pawn to attack.
  • Bd3 and short castling is a standard setup in most Tarrasch lines.

Black

  • 3...c5 hits d4 at once. After 4.exd5 Qxd5, the queen is safe because no knight sits on c3.
  • ...Nf6 invites e5 and a closed chain where you play ...c5 and ...Nc6.
  • 3...Be7 and 3...a6 are flexible moves that keep Black's choice of setup open.
  • Remember that White's c1 bishop is blocked by the d2 knight for a while.

Plans and pawn structure

The d2 knight blocks the c1 bishop for a time, so White often plays Ngf3, Bd3 and short castling before freeing it. In the open lines Black often gets an isolated d-pawn or active queen after ...c5 and an early trade. In the closed lines with ...Nf6, White pushes e5 and builds a chain with c3 and f4. Black's plans revolve around ...c5 and ...Nc6 against d4.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.20: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.20 3...c5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Bc4
  2. +0.34 3...a6 4.Bd3 c5 5.Ngf3 cxd4 6.Nxd4
  3. +0.38 3...Be7 4.Ngf3 c5 5.dxc5 Bxc5 6.Bd3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

6,258 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.4%.

under 120052.1%
1200–159955.5%
1600–199953.7%
2000 and up52.9%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation3...Nf6 · 2,107 games
  • Tarrasch Variation, Open System3...c5 · 1,667 games
  • Tarrasch Variation, Guimard Defense, Thunderbunny Variation3...Nc6 · rare
  • Tarrasch Variation, Haberditz Variation3...f5 · rare
  • Tarrasch Variation, Modern System3...a6 · rare
  • Tarrasch Variation, Morozevich Variation3...Be7 · rare
  • Tarrasch Variation, Chistyakov Defense, Modern Line3...c5 · rare
  • Tarrasch Variation, Leningrad Variation3...Nf6 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, choose between 3...c5 for an open, active game and ...Nf6 for a closed chain. Do not play ...Bb4, which does nothing because there is no knight on c3. As White, if you get 3...c5, be ready for the queen on d5.

Questions

What are the moves of the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation?

The French Defense: Tarrasch Variation starts 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2. Its ECO code is C03.

Is the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.20 at depth 20, which is level. In 6,258 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.4%. A solid main line for White players who want a slight edge with little risk, while Black needs to know both the open and closed systems.

What is the main idea of the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation?

White defends e4 with a knight on d2 so no pin with ...Bb4 is possible and c3 stays open for the c-pawn. Black usually answers with ...c5 or ...Nf6.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is c5, with a6 and Be7 close behind. 3...c5 hits d4 at once, using the fact that ...Qxd5 is safe without a knight on c3.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.