Tarrasch Defense

The main line

The Tarrasch Defense is reached by 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 (ECO D32). It's one of 26 named lines under this opening in the book.

Named variations (13)

• Classical Variation — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O O-O (D34)
• Swedish Variation — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 c4 (D33)
• Prague Variation — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 (D33)
• Schara Gambit — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 cxd4 (D32)
• Marshall Gambit — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. e4 (D32)
• Two Knights Variation — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 (D32)
• Symmetrical Variation — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 (D32)
• Rubinstein System — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 (D33)
• Tarrasch Gambit — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. dxc5 d4 6. Na4 b5 (D32)
• Grünfeld Gambit — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. dxc5 d4 7. Na4 b5 (D32)
• Wagner Variation — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Bg4 (D33)
• von Hennig Gambit — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Nc6 6. Qd1 exd5 7. Qxd5 Be6 (D32)
• Dubov Tarrasch — 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 (D33)

Analyze the Tarrasch Defense

Play through this opening on the free analysis board, or review one of your own gamesto see how accurately you handled it — every move classified, with the engine's best line on each mistake.

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