French: Tarrasch, Open, 4.Ngf3 Nc6
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation
Definition
The Tarrasch Variation arises after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2. Named after Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch (1862-1934), it is one of the three main branches of the French Defense (the others being the Winawer and Classical).
How the Move 3.Nd2 Works
- Pre-emptively over-protects e4 and prepares c2-c3, keeping a broad pawn center.
- Avoids the pin …Bb4 found in the Winawer (3.Nc3 Bb4), giving White a “headache-free” development scheme.
- Retains flexibility: the c-pawn can support the center with c2-c3, or the knight can later re-route to b3, f3, or even e5.
Strategic & Historical Significance
Although Tarrasch himself championed open games, his variation in the French often leads to rich, maneuvering positions rather than immediate fireworks. It was revitalised by Soviet stars such as Mikhail Botvinnik and later by Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi, who used it as a positional weapon against the solid French.
Typical Plans
- White tries to maintain central tension until the optimal moment, often choosing between the Open (4.Ngf3) and Closed (4.e5) systems.
- The light-squared bishop usually reaches d3 or b5; the dark-squared bishop often fianchettos via g2 after g3.
- Black counter-attacks with …c5, …Nf6, and, in many lines, …f6 or …e5 breaks.
Illustrative Example
One of the earliest showcases was Botvinnik – Tartakower, Moscow 1925. After 3.Nd2, Botvinnik outplayed his illustrious opponent in a classic strategic squeeze on the light squares.
Interesting Facts
- Because it sidesteps the sharp Winawer, the Tarrasch has been jokingly called the “French-Avoider.”
- Engine assessments have swung wildly over time; modern engines now give White a small but stable edge in several Tarrasch sub-lines, prompting many French specialists to switch to the more dynamic 3…c5 or 3…h6 lines.
Open System in the French Tarrasch
Definition
Within the Tarrasch, the term Open System (or Open Variation) refers to lines where White keeps the central pawn tension alive by declining the advance 4.e5 and instead plays 4.Ngf3. The most common black replies are …Nf6 or …Nc6, after which the central pawns are often exchanged, leading to open files and quicker piece activity.
Why It Is Called “Open”
- The pawn structure often clarifies quickly with …dxe4 or …c5xd4, opening the e- and sometimes the c-files.
- Minor pieces gain freer lines of play compared with the Closed System, where the pawns on e5 and d4 block central files.
Typical Move Orders
Two illustrative ways to reach the Open System:
- 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Ngf3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nxe4 6.Bd3
- 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nc6 4.Ngf3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nf6
Strategic Themes for Each Side
- White: Develop rapidly, exploit the half-open e-file (often doubling rooks on e1/e2), and press on weak Black pawns (e6, d5).
- Black: Strike back with …c5, contest the e-file, and aim for a minority attack on the queenside (…b5-b4) or a timely …f6 pawn break.
Example Game
Korchnoi – Karpov, Leningrad 1977 reached an Open System after 4.Ngf3 c5. Korchnoi demonstrated the active prospects for White’s pieces but Karpov eventually neutralised the pressure and held the endgame — a model of French resilience.
Trivia
- The Open System was once considered tame, but modern engines show several razor-sharp exchange-sacrifice lines after 4…dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nf6 6.Nxf6+!?
- Players who dislike the cramped positions of the Closed System often adopt the Open as a practical over-the-board choice, especially in rapid chess.
4.Ngf3 Nc6
Definition & Move Order
The sequence 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Ngf3 Nc6 (ECO code C03) is a specific branch of the Open System. After developing the knight to f3, White allows Black to bring out the c6-knight immediately, fighting for the d4-square and preparing …dxe4 or …e5.
Strategic Ideas Behind Each Move
- 4.Ngf3 – Supports the e5-square, eyes g5 and h4 for potential kingside probes, and keeps the center fluid.
- …Nc6 – Contest d4, reinforce e5, and add pressure on the b4 and d4 squares. It also signals Black’s intention to keep the queen’s-bishop flexible (often to e7 or d6).
Main Continuations
- 5.e5 Nd7 6.c3 – A hybrid line where White transposes into a structure resembling the Closed System but with pieces developed more actively.
- 5.Bb5 – A Rossolimo-style pin, provoking …dxe4 when White recaptures with the knight and enjoys quick centralisation.
- 5.exd5 – Clarifies the center at once; after 5…exd5 White often castles long and aims for pressure along the g- and h-files.
Typical Middlegame Motifs
- White may sacrifice the d-pawn with d4-d5 in some positions to open lines against an un-castled Black king.
- Black frequently plays …Be7, …0-0, and either …f6 or …b6 …Bb7 depending on where the pawn breaks appear.
Illustrative Mini-Game
The diagram (generated by the placeholder above) shows one common tactical trick: after 7.c3 f6?! 8.exf6 Qxf6 9.Bb5! White gains tempo by pinning the c6-knight, forcing Black into passive defence.
Historical & Modern Practice
The move …Nc6 received serious attention in the 1960s by French specialists like Anatoly Lutikov, and found its way into the repertoires of grandmasters such as Nigel Short and, more recently, Alireza Firouzja.
Fun Facts
- Because the line is less theoretical than the Winawer or main-line Classical, many amateurs use 4…Nc6 as a surprise weapon, hoping to drag White into unfamiliar territory.
- Engines originally dismissed 4…Nc6 as “slightly inferior,” but recent cloud-engine research shows that, with precise play, Black’s position is fully viable and sometimes easier to handle than the highly-theoretical 4…c5 lines.