French Defense: Tarrasch Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2

ECO C03

The French Defense: Tarrasch Variation is a chess opening line in the French Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2.

It is catalogued under code C03 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Nd2 is chosen by White on move 3.

11 named continuations branch from this position, including the Guimard Defense and the Haberditz Variation.

Named variations

• French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Guimard Defense — ECO C03
• French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Haberditz Variation — ECO C03
• French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Modern System — ECO C03
• French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Morozevich Variation — ECO C03
• French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Botvinnik Variation — ECO C05
• French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation — ECO C05
• French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Pawn Center Variation — ECO C05
• French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Leningrad Variation — ECO C06
• French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Chistyakov Defense — ECO C07
• French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Eliskases Variation — ECO C07
• French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System — ECO C07

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the French Defense course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.