Jump to content

Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nd2/3...Nf6/4. e5/4...Nfd7

Add links
From Wikibooks, open books for an open world
French Defence: Tarrasch Variation
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black kingh8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black knighte7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black pawnf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black pawne5 white pawnf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 white pawne4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white knighte2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 black kingc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqkb1r/pppn1ppp/4p3/3pP3/3P4/8/PPPN1PPP/R1BQKBNR w

Moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7

French Defence: Tarrasch Variation / 3....Nf6

[edit | edit source]

This position has some similarities to the Steinitz Variation of the Classical French, however, with their Queen Knight on d2 (instead of c3) White will find it easier to defend their center pawns.
Having the option of supporting their d4-Pawn by playing c3 certainly is a good thing to have, and if things get worse, White can also use both knights to defend d4.
In this variation Black will find it difficult to undermine White's pawn center successfully, at least if they try doing so in a classical / stereotypical way.
After Black's 4. ... Nfd7 White has several ways to play, with 5. Bd3 being the most common choice: White wants to develop this bishop to a very good diagonal - before they must play Ne2 (in response to Black's upcoming pressure on d4.)
5.f4 is a good alternative for White, which overprotects the e5-Pawn and makes it more difficult for Black to create pressure against e5 (e.g. by playing ...f6).
Moves like 5.c3, 5.Ne2, 5.Ndf3 or 5.Ngf3 are played less often, but aren't bad either.

Theory table

[edit | edit source]

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7
5
Main line 5. Bd3 =
1 5.f4 =
2 5.c3 =
3 5.Ndf3 =
4 5.Ne2 =
5 5.Ngf3 =

When contributing to this Wikibook, please follow the Conventions for organization.

References

[edit | edit source]

Wikipedia has related information at French Defence

Retrieved from "https://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?title=Chess_Opening_Theory/1._e4/1...e6/2._d4/2...d5/3._Nd2/3...Nf6/4._e5/4...Nfd7&oldid=4431996"