French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Leningrad Variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ne2 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nb6

ECO C06

The French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Leningrad Variation is a chess opening line in the French Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ne2 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nb6.

It is catalogued under code C06 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Nb6 is chosen by Black on move 8.

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.