Tree path 4 levels French Defense › Normal Variation › French Defense › Tarrasch Variation

C03

French Defense: Tarrasch Variation

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Overview

French Defense: Tarrasch Variation is a named branch in the Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO C03.

The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.

The line arises from 5 plies — specifically the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from French Defense, part of the broader French Defense system.

7 distinct sub-variations branch from this opening; prominent examples include French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Kasparov Attack, Closed Variation, Guimard Defense, and others.

Together the deeper variations number 23 across the full subtree.

Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.

ECO code: C03
Group: Open Games (C)
Plies: 5
Parent: French Defense
Direct variations: 7
Total in subtree: 23

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

8,990,697 games · White 50.5% / Draw 5.8% / Black 43.7%

Moves	Games	W / D / B
Nf6	3,378,825
c5	2,328,387
dxe4	1,967,249
Nc6	427,147
Be7	209,816
c6	149,827
a6	132,220
f5	89,267

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:09:47

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Variations (7)

Show all 23 sub-variations (full subtree)

Overview

Statistics from Lichess

Variations (7)

Related variations at the same level