French: Tarrasch, 3...b6
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 developing the knight to d2 instead of the more natural c3, White sidesteps the …Bb4 pin of the Winawer and keeps the c-pawn free to advance to c3 or c4. The line is named after Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch, one of the great teachers of classical chess at the turn of the 20th century.
Main Ideas and Strategy
- Flexibility. 3.Nd2 keeps the pawn chain e4–d4 supported and avoids early structural commitments.
- Central tension. White often maintains the pawn on e4 against …dxe4, recapturing with a piece and keeping a space advantage.
- Typical plans for White.
- Classical set-up: Ngf3, Bd3, 0-0, c3, Re1 and sometimes e5.
- Kingside thrusts: f4–f5 or g4 leading to attacks if Black castles short.
- Minor-piece pressure: exchanging Black’s good light-squared bishop and leaving Black with the infamous French “bad” bishop on c8.
- Typical answers for Black.
- 3…c5 (Open System) – the most theoretical, striking the center at once.
- 3…Nf6 (Guimard) – develops rapidly; play often resembles the Caro-Kann.
- 3…Be7 or 3…Bb4+ (Closed Systems) – solid but slightly passive.
- 3…b6 – the subject of the next entry, an off-beat attempt to trade the c8-bishop.
Typical Move Orders and Tabiyas
After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Ngf3, we reach a position appearing in many grandmaster games. Black must decide between the isolani structure (…Nc6, …Nf6) or the more solid …c4 followed by …Nc6 and …Bd6.
Historical Context
Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch popularized the line in the late 19th century, preaching “the open game” ideals while still anchoring a pawn on e4. The variation became a battleground in the Karpov–Korchnoi world-title matches (Baguio 1978, Merano 1981) when Korchnoi used it as White to press against Karpov’s beloved French. More recently Magnus Carlsen adopted 3.Nd2 in game 9 of the 2013 World Championship match against Vishy Anand, solidifying its modern standing.
Illustrative Games
- Tarrasch – von Scheve, Berlin 1895. A classical model ending in a crisp kingside attack.
- Korchnoi – Karpov, Baguio 1978 (game 13). Demonstrates the isolani structure arising from the Open System.
- Carlsen – Anand, Chennai 2013 (game 9). Carlsen steered the game into an endgame edge and out-maneuvered Anand.
Interesting Facts and Anecdotes
- Because the knight on d2 blocks the queen’s bishop, beginners often fear the Tarrasch is “cramped,” yet statistics show it scores slightly above average for White up to the master level.
- Korchnoi half-jokingly called the line “my home country” because he employed it in nearly every French game as White for decades.
- Engine evaluations hover around +0.20 – +0.35 for White in the mainlines, making it a pragmatic choice for players who want a risk-controlled fight.
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, 3…b6 Line
Definition
The move 3…b6 in the Tarrasch (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 b6) is a rare but strategically motivated attempt by Black to fianchetto the c8-bishop and often follow with …Ba6, exchanging the “bad” French bishop before it becomes a long-term problem. The idea is sometimes called the Morozevich or Accelerated Fianchetto system, though it has no universally accepted nickname in theory manuals.
Main Ideas and Strategy
- Tackling the bad bishop. By preparing …Ba6, Black aims to swap the c8-bishop for White’s more active f1-bishop, improving the long-term endgame outlook.
- Flexibility. Black keeps pawn tension in the center and avoids the heavily analyzed 3…c5 mainlines, which can be attractive as a surprise weapon.
- Dynamic imbalance. If White allows …Ba6, the position often features an unbalanced minor-piece scenario: Black’s knight pair vs. White’s bishop pair.
- Potential drawbacks.
- The b-pawn advance slightly weakens the dark squares on the queenside (c6, a6).
- Development can lag if Black wastes tempi maneuvering the bishop while White seizes space with e5 or c4.
Typical Move Orders and Key Lines
A few common continuations:
- 4.Ngf3 Ba6 5.Bxa6 Nxa6 6.c3 c5 – Black has traded the bad bishop but must justify the misplaced knight on a6.
- 4.Bb5+ c6 5.Bd3 Ba6 6.Bxa6 Nxa6 7.c3 – White forces an early exchange but concedes the bishop pair.
- 4.exd5 exd5 5.Ngf3 Bd6 6.Bd3 Ne7 – a solid, Rubinstein-style set-up without isolani.
A compact sample miniature:
Historical Context
Although the idea of …b6 and …Ba6 had been tried sporadically as early as the 1920s, it was the creative Russian grandmaster Alexander Morozevich who gave the line practical legitimacy in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His brave use of 3…b6 against elite opposition (e.g., Anand – Morozevich, Wijk aan Zee 2002) sparked fresh analytical interest.
Illustrative Games
- Anand – Morozevich, Wijk aan Zee 2002. Black equalizes comfortably and later outplays the former World Champion.
- Grischuk – Andreikin, Russian Ch. 2016. Demonstrates the …c5 break after Black has achieved …Ba6 and …c5.
Interesting Facts and Anecdotes
- Because ECO codes lump it in with other off-beat replies to 3.Nd2, databases sometimes mis-label 3…b6 games, making opponent preparation even harder.
- Engines initially disliked the line (–0.40 or worse) until the 2020s, when improved depth showed near equality after precise play.
- The move 3…b6 has a mirror cousin in the Caro-Kann Advance (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 b6!?), another pet line of Morozevich.