French Defense: Tarrasch Open, Delayed Exchange, Advance

French Defense

Definition

The French Defense is a chess opening that begins with the moves 1.e4 e6 and is classified under ECO codes C00–C19. Black immediately prepares …d5 to challenge White’s e-pawn and establish a solid, semi-closed central structure with pawn chains pointing at opposite wings.

Typical Move Order & Usage

Core position after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5:

• Black’s plan: Strike at White’s center with …d5, build a pawn chain c7-d6-e5 if possible, and counterattack on the queenside.
• White’s choices: Exchange (3.exd5), Advance (3.e5), Tarrasch (3.Nd2), Classical (3.Nc3) and sideline systems such as the King’s Indian Attack.

Strategic Significance

• A battle of pawn chains: White usually gets space on the kingside; Black attacks the base of White’s chain or undermines with …c5, …f6 or …g5 (in Winawer lines).
• The light-squared French bishop (c8) is often temporarily “bad,” so Black employs breaks and piece trades to liberate it.
• Characterized by rich positional themes rather than immediate tactics, yet many variations (e.g., Winawer Poisoned Pawn) can become razor-sharp.

Historical Context & Famous Games

Named after a correspondence match England–France (London 1834) where French players consistently answered 1.e4 with 1…e6. Later world champions from Capablanca to Carlsen have employed it successfully. A classic illustration is Korchnoi – Karpov, World Championship 1978 (21), where Black’s iron pawn chain kept White’s pieces cramped.

Interesting Facts

• Well-known devotees include Botvinnik, Petrosian, Ivanchuk and Short.
• Popular among club players because the early structure is predictable and theory is more compact than, say, the Sicilian Defense.
• In the late 1990s the French was the only defense Garry Kasparov trusted against computer opponents, e.g., Kasparov vs Deep Blue, 1997 (Game 4).

Tarrasch (French Defense – Tarrasch Variation)

Definition

The Tarrasch Variation of the French Defense arises after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2. Named after the German grandmaster and theoretician Siegbert Tarrasch, it avoids the pin …Bb4 found in the Classical lines (3.Nc3).

Main Lines & Move Orders

• Open System: 3…dxe4 4.Nxe4 (ECO C07–C09)
• Closed System: 3…Nf6 4.e5 (ECO C05–C06)
• Delayed Exchange: 3…Nf6 4.exd5 exd5
• Guimard (3…Nc6) and Rubinstein (3…Be7) are additional sub-variations.

Strategic Ideas

• White keeps a flexible center while sidestepping the Winawer.
• Piece play often trumps pawn structure; the Tarrasch IQP (isolated queen pawn) can appear after exchanges on d5.
• Black chooses between symmetrical solidity (…exd4 lines) or dynamic imbalance (…c5, …f6 pawn breaks).

Historical & Practical Relevance

The variation gained traction after Tarrasch showcased its resilience in the early 1900s. It became a centerpiece of Anatoly Karpov’s repertoire—seven of the first 17 games in Karpov–Korchnoi, Baguio 1978 featured the French Tarrasch.

Interesting Tidbits

• The move 3.Nd2 is sometimes called the “Chiron” system in French chess literature.
• Computers initially underestimated the Tarrasch, but modern engines show many lines to be equal or even slightly better for White.

Open (as in “Open Game” or “Open Variation”)

Definition

In chess terminology, “open” means that files and diagonals are largely free of pawns, allowing pieces—especially bishops and rooks—to exert full power. The term applies to:

1. Open Games: Positions arising from 1.e4 e5 where central pawns are exchanged early (e.g., Ruy Lopez Open, Italian Game).
2. Open Variations: Sub-lines of other openings in which the center is quickly clarified via exchanges—e.g., the French Defense, Tarrasch Open System: 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4.

Strategic Effects

• Piece mobility increases; tactical possibilities abound.
• Pawn weaknesses (isolated, backward pawns) become important due to unobstructed lines.
• Open positions reward rapid development and king safety (castling).

Example

After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6, the center is stripped of the d- and e-pawns: bishops on c1/c8 and rooks on e-files can already eye each other—an archetypal open French position.

Interesting Anecdote

In Kamsky – Short, Linares 1994, Nigel Short deliberately opened the center with pawn breaks to exploit the activity of his bishop pair, demonstrating how “open” play can overturn structural considerations.

Delayed Exchange (French Defense – Delayed Exchange Variation)

Definition

The Delayed Exchange Variation in the French Defense occurs when White postpones the symmetrical trade on d5. The most common path is 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.exd5 exd5. White obtains the same pawn structure as the immediate Exchange (3.exd5) but often with an extra tempo in development.

Key Characteristics

• Symmetrical pawn structure but with asymmetric piece activity.
• White can often seize the e-file or target Black’s IQP after …c5.
• Black’s light-squared bishop usually goes to d6 or b4 to create pin pressure and compensate for any tempo loss.

Strategic & Practical Value

• Appeals to players who like the calm nature of the Exchange but still want winning chances.
• Black must decide between piece pressure (…Bd6, …Nc6) or immediate pawn breaks (…c5).

Illustrative Mini-Game

Historical Note

Garry Kasparov tried this line (as White) against Karpov in their 1986 World Championship rematch to avoid Karpov’s homegrown Winawer preparation.

Fun Fact

Despite its calm appearance the variation has produced numerous time-scramble tactical melees because players underestimate the latent energy in a mirrored structure.

Advance Line (French Defense – Advance Variation)

Definition

The Advance Line—more commonly called the Advance Variation—of the French Defense arises after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5. White pushes the e-pawn to gain space and clamp down on Black’s natural freeing move …f6.

Main Ideas & Typical Plans

• White: Build a kingside attack with f4–g4–h4 or play c3, Bd3, Ne2–f4 to reinforce the center and launch on both wings.
• Black: Break the center with …c5 and/or …f6, undermine White’s pawn chain, and exploit dark-square weaknesses.
• Key Tabiyas: 3…c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 (or 5…Bd7) where both sides maneuver behind their pawn walls.

Strategic Significance

• The locked center leads to flank operations; pawn storms are frequent.
• The Advance often transposes into Caro–Kann Advance-style structures when Black plays …c5 and White answers c3.
• Because the center is fixed early, long-term planning and understanding of color-complexes trump raw calculation.

Famous Examples

Carlsen – Caruana, London 2012 featured a modern treatment with early a4 by White and swift central counterplay by Black. An older classic is Nimzowitsch – Rubinstein, Dresden 1926, often cited in textbooks for Rubinstein’s thematic …f6 break.

Interesting Facts

• The French Advance was championed by Aron Nimzowitsch, who extolled the virtues of blockade before breakthrough.
• AlphaZero’s self-play games revealed a remarkable fondness for the Advance, frequently executing the h4 pawn push long before humans popularized it.