Queen's Gambit Declined: Tarrasch Defense, Pseudo-Tarrasch
The Pseudo-Tarrasch is 3...c5 against 3.Nf3, a Tarrasch-style strike at d4 before White has committed the queen's knight. Without a knight on c3, White can trade dark bishops with Bg5 or play e3 and Bb5+, while Black aims for an isolated pawn with quick development.
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5
- ECO
- D30
- Engine
- +0.27 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 1,184 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 53.8%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 offers a trade of dark bishops, leaving Black's d5 pawn with fewer defenders.
- After Bxe7 Qxe7, play e3, Be2 and castle, then put a knight on d4 to blockade.
- 4.e3 with cxd5 and Bb5+ trades Black's light bishop, the key defender of the d5 square.
- Since the b1 knight is still home, it can go to d2 or c3 depending on Black's setup.
Black
- After 4.cxd5, recapture ...exd5 and develop fast with ...Nc6 and ...Nf6 to support d5.
- Meet Bg5 with ...Be7 and recapture with the queen, keeping the king's knight free.
- Use ...cxd4 at the right time to give White an isolated pawn instead of Black.
- Against Bb5+, block with ...Bd7 and accept the trade of light bishops.
Plans and pawn structure
The isolated d5 pawn is again the main theme, but here White's queen knight is still flexible. White tries to trade the minor pieces that defend d5, especially the dark bishop with Bg5 and the light one with Bb5+. Black wants fast development, ...O-O and pressure on d4 so White cannot settle a knight there. In the a3 line, Black can take on c4 and expand with ...a6 and ...b5.
Where the engine's main line heads: Carlsbad structure (after cxd5 exd5). The Carlsbad structure, from cxd5 exd5: White has d4 and no c-pawn, Black has c6 or c7 and d5 and no e-pawn.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.27: level. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.27 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7
- +0.20 4.e3 Nf6 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bb5+ Bd7
- +0.06 4.a3 dxc4 5.e3 Nf6 6.Bxc4 a6
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
1,184 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.8%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Tarrasch Defense, Stoltz Variation4.cxd5 · rare
How to play against it
As White, play 4.cxd5 and offer the bishop trade with Bg5. Keep the b1 knight flexible. As Black, recapture with the e-pawn, develop quickly and use ...cxd4 to change the structure when it helps. Avoid passive moves. Keep d5 well defended.
Questions
What are the moves of the Queen's Gambit Declined: Tarrasch Defense, Pseudo-Tarrasch?
The Queen's Gambit Declined: Tarrasch Defense, Pseudo-Tarrasch starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5. Its ECO code is D30.
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Tarrasch Defense, Pseudo-Tarrasch good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.27 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,184 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.8%. A sound choice for active Black players; White players should use the bishop trades to fix the d5 weakness.
What is the main idea of the Queen's Gambit Declined: Tarrasch Defense, Pseudo-Tarrasch?
Black plays ...c5 before White has a knight on c3. White can trade dark bishops with Bg5 or light bishops with Bb5+, making Black's isolated d5 pawn harder to defend.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is cxd5, with e3 and a3 close behind. 4.cxd5 fixes the structure and prepares Bg5 to trade dark bishops.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.