French Defense - Tarrasch Variation

French Defense – Tarrasch Variation (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2)

Definition

The Tarrasch Variation of the French Defense arises after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2. It is named after the German grandmaster Siegbert Tarrasch (1862-1934) and constitutes one of the three main replies to the French Defense, along with 3.Nc3 (the Winawer & Classical Complex) and 3.e5 (the Advance Variation). By developing the knight to d2 instead of c3, White keeps the c-pawn mobile and sidesteps the pin ...Bb4 seen in the Winawer.

Main-Line Move Order

After 3.Nd2 Black has several respected continuations. The most common are:

• 3…c5 – the Guimard and Modern Tarrasch lines
• 3…Nf6 – the Open System leading to IQP or isolated pawn structures
• 3…Be7 – the Closed Tarrasch, often transposing to 3.Nc3 Be7

A representative main line runs 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Ngf3 Nc6 when an isolated d-pawn struggle is on the horizon.

Strategic Ideas

• White’s aims
  • Maintain a healthy pawn center without allowing the …Bb4 pin.
  • Break with c2-c4 or e4-e5 at an opportune moment.
  • Exploit the half-open e-file after an eventual exchange on e4.
• Black’s aims
  • Challenge the center with …c5, …Nf6, and occasionally …f6.
  • Create dynamic play around an isolated d-pawn (IQP) or a hanging-pawn pair on c5/d5.
  • Exchange minor pieces to ease any structural weaknesses.

Typical Plans for White

1. Queenside space: advance c2-c4, followed by d4-c5 thrusts.
2. Kingside attack: when Black castles short and concedes the isolated pawn, White often maneuvers pieces to e5, f3, and h5.
3. Minor-piece pressure: place a knight on f3 (or gf3) and a bishop on d3 aiming at h7.

Typical Plans for Black

1. Central breaks: …c5 and …f6 to undermine e4.
2. Piece activity: knights on f6 and c6, bishop to g4 or f5, queen to b6.
3. Endgame transitions: trading pieces into favorable pawn endings where the IQP can become a strength.

Historical Context & Notable Games

Siegbert Tarrasch advocated 3.Nd2 as the “healthiest” counter to the French, claiming that it leaves all of White’s options open. The variation has been employed by world champions, including Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov, and Anatoly Karpov. Fischer famously used it throughout the 1970 Interzonal in Palma, scoring 4½/5 against the French.

• Bobby Fischer – Wolfgang Uhlmann, Buenos Aires 1970 (½-½)
• Anatoly Karpov – Viktor Korchnoi, Candidates Final 1974 (1-0)
• Garry Kasparov – Jan Timman, Tilburg 1989 (1-0)

Illustrative Mini-Game

The following ten-move snippet captures common ideas:

White has exchanged once in the center to exploit the half-open e-file, while Black prepares …O-O and central pressure on d4.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• The opening is a favorite of correspondence and engine players because of its rich strategic complexity and relatively low forced theory compared to 3.Nc3.
• The line 3.Nd2 was Robert James Fischer’s exclusive weapon against the French from 1967 onward; he never lost a game with it in classical play.
• In the Kasparov vs. Deep Blue rematch (1997), Kasparov considered 3.Nd2 during preparation but ultimately played 3.Nc3.
• Grandmaster Ulf Andersson used the Tarrasch as Black (reversing colors!) by transposition from a Queen’s Pawn set-up, demonstrating its flexibility as a structure rather than a single move order.