French: Tarrasch Open 4.Ngf3 Nf6

French: Tarrasch

Definition

The French: Tarrasch is a branch of the French Defence that arises after the moves 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2. The variation is named after the German grandmaster and theoretician Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch (1862-1934), who championed the idea of avoiding the pin …Bb4 and maintaining flexible central control with the knight on d2.

Typical move-order

The baseline position appears after:

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nd2

From here Black has three main branches:

3…c5 – the Guimard (or Chistyakov) System
3…Nf6 – the Closed Tarrasch
3…dxe4 – the Open Tarrasch (covered in the next section)

Strategic ideas

White keeps the c-pawn free, so the typical freeing break c2-c4 can be prepared without being hindered by a knight on c3.
The knight on d2 supports the advance e4-e5 and can re-route to f3, b3 or c4 depending on circumstances.
Black usually tries to exploit the passive placement of the d2-knight by pressuring the d4-pawn or striking in the centre with …c5 or …e5.
The variation often leads to IQP (Isolated Queen’s Pawn) or minority-attack structures, giving both sides dynamic chances.

Historical notes

Tarrasch used 3.Nd2 successfully as early as 1892, but the line became a staple of world-championship practice in the 1970s when Anatoly Karpov adopted it against Viktor Korchnoi and Viktor Kortchnoi in their title matches. More recently, players such as Peter Svidler, Levon Aronian and Alireza Firouzja have kept the variation fashionable.

Illustrative miniature

Karpov – Korchnoi, World Championship (game 17), Baguio 1978

Interesting facts

Tarrasch himself believed the variation was “simpler and more straightforward” than 3.Nc3, reflecting his classical preference for clear central plans.
The modern engine era has shown that 3.Nd2 scores only a fraction of a percent below 3.Nc3 at all levels, vindicating Tarrasch’s optimism.

Open (Tarrasch Open Variation)

Definition

In ECO terminology the word “Open” appended to an opening name means that the centre is opened early by an exchange of pawns. In the French: Tarrasch this happens after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4. Black immediately trades the d-pawn for White’s e-pawn, producing a new central structure that is distinct from the “Closed” lines begun by 3…Nf6.

Typical continuation

After 3…dxe4 the main line continues:

4.Nxe4 (old main line) or
4.Ngf3 (modern preference, allowing the sub-variation 4…Nf6)

Key strategic themes

Isolated d-pawn: Black often emerges with an isolated pawn on d5 after …c5 and …exd4, giving White targets but granting Black piece activity.
Piece play over pawn chains: With the e-file half-open, both sides contest open lines rather than locked pawn structures typical of other French lines.
Rapid development: Because there is no central blockade, tempi are crucial; both sides race to complete development and seize open files.

Historical context

The Open Tarrasch gained traction when Bobby Fischer used it successfully in the 1960s, notably against Tigran Petrosian in their 1971 Candidates match. In the computer era, engines evaluate the line as dynamically balanced, so it remains a popular choice for players who wish to avoid the strategic labyrinths of 3.Nc3.

Example position

After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.Ng5 c5 6.dxc5, the pieces are flying and the pawn structure is already fluid—an archetypal Open Tarrasch struggle.

Trivia

The Open Tarrasch is one of the rare French structures where the infamous “bad” French bishop (c8-bishop) can become the most active minor piece on the board.
In the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings it carries the codes C03-C05, distinguishing it from Closed (C07-C09) lines.

4.Ngf3 Nf6 (French Tarrasch, Open System)

Definition

The move sequence 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Ngf3 Nf6 defines the most popular sub-variation of the Open Tarrasch. Instead of the immediate recapture 4.Nxe4, White keeps tension by redeploying the g1-knight to f3; Black replies with 4…Nf6, developing and guarding e4 simultaneously.

Big picture plans

White’s plan:
- Win back the e4-pawn at a moment of his choosing (often 5.Ng5 or 5.Qe2).
- Exploit a potential IQP on d5 after the sequence …c5, …exd4.
Black’s plan:
- Maintain the extra pawn as long as possible to gain tempi.
- Target the d4-square and break with …c5 to liberate the position.

Critical lines

The most-studied continuations are:

5.Ng5 c5 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 – leads to sharp tactical play.
5.Qe2 c5 6.Nxe4 Nxe4 7.Qxe4 – transposes to IQP structures.

Sample game fragment

Shirov – Kramnik, Linares 1994 (notes truncated)

Why it matters

The line tests both players’ theoretical memory and tactical sharpness. In practice, many French specialists adopt 4…Nf6 specifically to steer the game into these dynamic rather than blocked French landscapes. Conversely, 1.e4 players who enjoy initiative plus open lines often make the Open Tarrasch with 4.Ngf3 their weapon of choice.

Did you know?

Despite appearing to offer a “free pawn,” engines show that after precise play the evaluation hovers around equality for decades of depth—an early example of modern opening double-edged equilibrium.
The famous “poisoned pawn” on e4 has ensnared many grandmasters; even Magnus Carlsen lost the pawn too slowly against Etienne Bacrot (Biel 2009) and was left defending a worse ending for 40 moves.