French Defense: Tarrasch, Guimard, Main Line
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation
Definition
The Tarrasch Variation of the French Defense arises after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2. By playing 3.Nd2 (instead of the more common 3.Nc3 or 3.exd5), White puts the queen’s knight on a flexible square, prepares f2–f4 in some lines, and—importantly—sidesteps the pin 3…Bb4 of the Winawer Variation.
How it is used in chess
- White’s third move guards e4 a second time, allowing the advance 4.e5 in many lines.
- Black has several respected replies:
- 3…Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 (the Classical line)
- 3…c5 4.exd5 exd5 (the Open or Rubinstein-Tarrasch line)
- 3…Be7 (the Rubinstein Variation, a quiet developing scheme)
- 3…Nc6 (the Guimard Defense, covered below)
- Typical middlegames feature a locked center with pawn chains e5–d4 for White versus e6–d5 for Black, leading to kingside action for White and counterplay on the queenside or in the center for Black.
Strategic & Historical Significance
Proposed by Siegbert Tarrasch in the late 19th century, this variation enjoyed a surge of popularity in the 1970s when Anatoly Karpov adopted it as one of his main anti-French weapons. Its reputation is that of a “safe, strategic” line: White avoids the highly theoretical Winawer and Poisoned Pawn debates but still retains chances for an advantage.
Illustrative Example
Fischer – Uhlmann, Buenos Aires 1960 (round 10) demonstrated the attacking potential:
After exploiting the pin on the g-file, Fischer’s heavy pieces crushed Black’s king, illustrating what can happen if Black’s counterplay is too slow.
Interesting Facts
- Karpov scored two critical wins with 3.Nd2 in his 1974 Candidates match versus Korchnoi, encouraging a new generation to study the line.
- Because 3.Nd2 sometimes transposes to the Advance French (after …c5 & …cxd4 exd4 dxe4 Nxe4), French specialists must master both structures.
- Some modern engines rate the Tarrasch as among the most challenging tries against the French, rehabilitating lines once considered equal.
Guimard Defense
Definition
The Guimard Defense is a branch of the French Tarrasch that begins 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6. Black develops the queen’s knight immediately, inviting 4.Ngf3 Nf6 or 4.exd5 exd5. It is named after the French master André Guimard, who played the setup in the 1930s.
Typical Plans
- Black: Break with …e5 or …c5 once the knight on c6 exerts added central pressure; often maneuvers …Nf6, …Be7, …O-O, and sometimes …b6, …Bb7.
- White: Choose between:
- 4.Ngf3 aiming for a flexible “Classical” French structure after 4…Nf6.
- 4.exd5 exd5 5.Ngf3 hoping to exploit the c6-knight blocking Black’s c-pawn.
- 4.c3 (the Razuvaev Gambit) offering a pawn to accelerate development.
Strategic & Practical Considerations
The Guimard is less common than 3…Nf6 or 3…c5 because blocking the c-pawn can hamper Black’s traditional counterplay against White’s center. However, it has surprise value and leads to unbalanced middlegames where typical French theory may not apply verbatim.
Historic & Modern Usage
Although André Guimard popularized the line, its theoretical development owes much to Argentine grandmaster Miguel Najdorf, who analyzed it for years. In the 21st century, French expert Evgeny Bareev and creative players like Richard Rapport have employed the Guimard as a fighting alternative.
Sample Miniature
Najdorf – Guimard, Mar del Plata 1944:
The game swung both ways, showcasing how quickly the Guimard can become tactical and original.
Trivia
- Because theory is lighter, some databases label the Guimard moves simply “Rare 3…Nc6,” so unwary opponents may be on their own as early as move 4.
- Engine statistics show the Guimard scores roughly 48 % for Black—slightly better than the main Tarrasch percentages—thanks to surprise value and unfamiliarity.
Main Line (Opening Terminology)
Definition
In chess opening theory, the main line (also called the principal variation) is the sequence of moves that theory currently regards as most critical for both sides. It is the line most frequently played at master level and usually carries the bulk of analytical attention in books and databases.
Usage in Chess
- Authors designate a move or series of moves as the main line to differentiate it from sidelines or sub-variations.
- In annotated games, analysts will often append (!) or label a move “main line” to steer readers toward the theoretically accepted continuation.
- During engine analysis, the PV (principal variation) that the engine displays is its calculated main line.
Strategic & Historical Significance
Understanding the main line of an opening offers several advantages:
- It acquaints players with the most tested positional ideas and pawn structures.
- It prepares them for the moves they are most likely to face in tournament practice.
- It provides a sound yardstick for evaluating sidelines (“Is this deviation as good as the main line?”).
Historically, what counts as the main line can shift with new discoveries. For example, the once-dominant “Open” Ruy Lopez (3…a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4) was supplanted by the Closed Ruy Lopez as theory evolved.
Examples
Below are a few famous main lines, recognizable even to non-specialists:
- Sicilian Najdorf: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6.
- King’s Indian, Classical: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7.
- French Tarrasch, Main Line: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ne2.
Interesting Facts
- The term “main line” is not static—engines and high-level novelties can dethrone decades-old consensus almost overnight, as happened when 6.h3 in the Najdorf became a fashionable alternative to 6.Bg5 or 6.Be3.
- Some openings, such as the Benoni or the Blackmar–Diemer Gambit, lack a universally agreed main line because theory branches extensively early on.
- Conversely, in the Petroff Defense, the symmetrical line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 is so dominant that many texts treat it simply as “the main line” without qualification.