French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System

French Defense: Tarrasch Variation

Definition

The Tarrasch Variation of the French Defense arises after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2. Named for the German grandmaster and theoretician Siegbert Tarrasch, the move 3.Nd2 avoids the pin …Bb4 that characterizes the Winawer and keeps options open for the c-pawn. The line belongs to ECO codes C03–C09.

Typical Move Orders & Main Branches

3…c5 4.exd5 exd5 – the Open (or Classical) System, leading to an isolated-queen-pawn structure that resembles a reversed Tarrasch QGD.
3…Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 – the so-called Closed Rubinstein line, emphasizing dark-square control and strategic maneuvering.
3…Be7 (Guimard), 3…Nc6 (Closed System), and 3…a6 (O’Kelly) – less common but playable alternatives.

Strategic Themes

Flexibility. By shielding the c-pawn, White can choose between c2-c3 (supporting d4) or c2-c4 (pressure on d5).
IQP Battles. In the Open System, both sides must decide whether to blockade, exchange, or attack the isolated pawn on d4/d5.
Piece Activity vs. Structure. Black often accepts a slightly cramped setup in return for long-term pawn solidity; White strives for rapid development and kingside space.

Historical Significance

The Tarrasch became a major weapon in the 1970s thanks to Anatoly Karpov, who used it in multiple World Championship matches against Viktor Korchnoi. Earlier, Bent Larsen employed it to upset Soviet preparation in the 1960s, and more recently grandmasters such as Peter Leko and Fabiano Caruana have re-popularized the variation.

Illustrative Game

[[Pgn| 1.e4|e6|2.d4|d5|3.Nd2|c5|4.exd5|exd5|5.Nf3|Nc6|6.Bb5|Bd6|7.dxc5|Bxc5|8.O-O|Ne7|9.Nb3|Bd6|10.c3|O-O|11.Re1|Bg4|12.h3|Bh5|13.Bg5|f6|14.Be3|Qd7|15.Bc5|Bxc5|16.Nxc5|Qd6|17.Nxb7|Qc7|18.Nc5|Ne5|19.Ne6|Qc8|20.Nxf8|Kxf8 |fen|r2q1rk1/np1n1ppp/4pp1P/2p1n3/3P4/2P4P/P1P2PP1/R1BQ1RK1|arrows|d4d5,c5d7|squares|d4]]

Karpov–Korchnoi, World Championship (game 17), Baguio 1978. Karpov steers the Open System into an IQP middlegame, gradually exploiting the d-file pressure for a textbook squeeze.

Interesting Facts

Siegbert Tarrasch disapproved of cramped positions, yet his namesake line often leaves Black slightly boxed in!
Engines rate the Tarrasch as one of White’s most resilient tries against the French; it scores slightly above average in master practice according to [[Chart|Rating|Standard|1950-2024]].

Open System (English Opening: King’s English)

Definition

In modern terminology, the phrase “Open System” most often refers to the branch of the English Opening beginning 1. c4 e5. Because Black stakes an immediate claim in the centre, the position can quickly open up, in contrast to the more usual symmetrical and closed English structures. These lines are catalogued in ECO codes A20–A29 and are also called the King’s English or Reversed Sicilian.

Typical Move Order

1.c4 e5
2.Nc3 Nf6
3.Nf3 Nc6
4.g3 d5 (main line) or 4…Bb4 (Four Knights)

Strategic Ideas

Reversed Sicilian Dynamics. White enjoys an extra tempo but Black’s pawn on e5 prevents many slow English manoeuvres, forcing more concrete play.
Central Tension. Moves such as …d5 or d2-d4 determine whether the game stays “Sicilian-like” or transposes to open king-pawn play.
Piece Activity. Both sides fight for the d4 and d5 squares; bishops often land on g2 and c5, rooks on the semi-open c- and e-files.

Why Use It?

Players who enjoy Sicilian structures with colors reversed—such as Garry Kasparov, Veselin Topalov, and Magnus Carlsen—employ the Open System to maintain flexibility while keeping the initiative of the first move.

Example Game

[[Pgn| 1.c4|e5|2.Nc3|Nf6|3.Nf3|Nc6|4.g3|d5|5.cxd5|Nxd5|6.Bg2|Nb6|7.O-O|Be7|8.d3|O-O|9.a3|Be6|10.b4|f6|11.Be3|Nd4|12.Bxd4|exd4|13.Na4|Nxa4|14.Qxa4|c6|15.Rfc1|Qd7|16.Nd2|Rfc8|17.Rab1|Kf7 |arrows|c4c5,d4c3|squares|d5]]

Kasparov – Short, Tilburg 1991. A sharp central struggle where the “extra tempo” allowed White to seize queenside space and eventually break through on the c-file.

Interesting Nuggets

In pre-computer days the Open System was considered risky for Black; today engines show it to be perfectly sound, leading to a revival at elite level.
Because the structure often mirrors a Sicilian Taimanov, fans of that defence find the repertoire switch quite natural—just flip the board!

Euwe-Keres Line (Queen’s Indian Defense)

Definition

The Euwe-Keres Line is a branch of the Queen’s Indian Defense that begins
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6. It bears the names of former World Champion Max Euwe and Estonian great Paul Keres, who both used the setup with early …b6 in the 1930s–50s. The idea is to fianchetto the queenside bishop to contest the long diagonal while keeping options flexible against both 4.g3 and 4.Nc3.

Key Continuations

4.g3 Ba6 – Black immediately pressures c4, often provoking 5.b3 or 5.Qa4. This is the most dynamic treatment.
4.Nc3 Bb4 (or 4…Bb7) – heading for more traditional Queen’s Indian structures.
4.e3 – a quiet line favored by positional players such as Ulf Andersson.

Plans & Strategic Motifs

Dark-Square Control. The bishop on a6 or b7 eyes e2 and d3; Black often combines this with …d5 or …c5 to strike at the centre.
Flexible Pawn Breaks. Depending on White’s setup, Black may choose …d5 (classic QID) or …c5 (Benoni‐style).
Minor-Piece Activity. Knights often head for c6 and b4 (for Black) or c3 and e4 (for White), jockeying for central outposts.

Historic Example

[[Pgn| 1.d4|Nf6|2.c4|e6|3.Nf3|b6|4.g3|Ba6|5.b3|Bb4+|6.Bd2|Be7|7.Nc3|d5|8.cxd5|exd5|9.Bg2|O-O|10.O-O|Re8|11.Ne5|Bb7|12.Bg5|Nbd7|13.Rc1|c5|14.Nxd7|Qxd7|15.dxc5|d4|16.Bxb7|Qxb7|17.Na4|Rad8|18.c6|Qa8 ]]

Euwe – Keres, Zandvoort 1936. One of the earliest high-level outings of the line, showcasing both players’ strategic flexibility. The game ended in a tense draw after mutual tactical skirmishes on the dark squares.

Interesting Facts

The line was long considered a pet system of World Champions: Euwe employed it in his 1935 match with Alekhine, and Karpov adopted it sporadically in the 1980s.
Because the opening can transpose into Benoni, Bogo-Indian, or even Catalan structures, it is a favorite of repertoire writers who like “one-size-fits-all” solutions for Black against 1.d4.
Modern engines rate the immediate 4.g3 Ba6 as fully viable, reviving a line that was once thought dubious due to the weakened c-pawn.