French: Tarrasch, 3...Be7 4.Bd3 c5 5.dxc5 Nf6
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, 3…Be7 4.Bd3 c5 5.dxc5 Nf6
Definition
The sequence of moves 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Be7 4.Bd3 c5 5.dxc5 Nf6 forms one of the sub-branches of the French Defense, Tarrasch Variation (ECO code C03). Black delays the customary …Nf6 in favour of the quieter …Be7, then quickly strikes at White’s centre with …c5. After the exchange on c5, the resulting structure resembles French IQP (Isolated Queen’s Pawn) positions, but with a pair of minor pieces already traded and kings still in the centre.
Typical Move Order
- 1.e4 e6 — The French Defense.
- 2.d4 d5 — Main line.
- 3.Nd2 — The Tarrasch Variation, keeping the option to support e4 with c3 and avoiding the pin …Bb4.
- 3…Be7 — “Closed” or “Guimard” line; Black prepares short castling while waiting to see how White sets the central pawns.
- 4.Bd3 — Development with an eye on h7 and potential kingside expansion.
- 4…c5 — Immediate counter-attack on the d4 pawn.
- 5.dxc5 Nf6 — Black recaptures the pawn dynamically (…Bxc5 comes next) while hitting e4.
Strategic Themes
- Piece Play over Pawn Chains — Unlike many French structures, the centre opens quickly, offering both sides active piece play instead of a locked pawn chain.
- Isolated Queen’s Pawn for Black — After …Bxc5 and …Qe7, Black frequently ends with an isolated pawn on d5. Compensation comes in the form of open lines for bishops and rooks.
- White’s Extra Tempo — Because Black has spent a move on …Be7 rather than the sharper …Nf6 or …c5 earlier, White gains time to castle and organise pressure on the IQP.
- King Safety — Both kings remain in the centre for several moves; timely castling and tactical awareness are critical.
- Minor-Piece Exchanges — The line often leads to early simplifications, steering the game toward strategic, endgame-oriented battles rather than wild attacks.
How It Is Used in Practice
Tournament players adopt this variation to avoid the heavily analysed 3…c5 Tarrasch line while still treating White’s centre vigorously. It suits players who enjoy French structures but prefer quieter, manoeuvring games with clear strategic goals: blockade the IQP (for White) or exploit piece activity before the pawn drops (for Black).
Historical Notes
• The move 3…Be7 was championed by the French master Armand-Éloi Guimard in the
1930s, giving the line its alternate name, the Guimard Variation.
• World-class exponents include Viktor Korchnoi, Yuri Razuvaev, and
Sergei Tiviakov, each scoring important wins with both colours.
• The line rarely appears in modern elite events because today’s engines show Black
must accept a slightly worse but solid position; nevertheless, it remains a sound
practical weapon at club level.
Illustrative Game
Korchnoi – Karpov, Candidates Final, Moscow 1974
Although Karpov chose 3…Nf6 in the actual match, their training games
reportedly included this 3…Be7 system, helping Karpov refine his IQP handling
skills—anecdotal evidence of the variation’s instructional value.
Practical Tips
- For White: Place a knight on f3, castle quickly, and aim for c4 or e5 clamps on the d5 pawn.
- For Black: Recapture with …Bxc5 immediately; follow with …0-0, …Qe7, and rook lifts (…Rd8) to mobilise around the IQP.
- Be alert to the tactic Bxh7+ if Black forgets to castle in time.
Interesting Facts
- Because Black’s light-squared bishop remains on c8 for several moves, this is one of the few French lines where that piece often becomes Black’s most valuable attacker later in the game.
- The variation frequently transposes to positions usually arising from the Queen’s Gambit Accepted; thus, Queen’s-pawn specialists can adopt it with the Black pieces while keeping their opening repertoire compact.
- Modern engines show a small plus for White (±≈+0.30), yet Black scores respectably in human practice because the plans are easier to understand than to refute.