French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Eliskases Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
45,321 games: White 54.1% / Draw 7.6% / Black 38.3%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 32,31432K | ||
| 11,57312K | ||
| 894894 | ||
| 345345 | ||
| 6767 | ||
| 2727 | ||
| 2222 | ||
| 1919 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.22 The position is about equal
Best play: 7. O-O a6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Nxd4 Bd7
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Eliskases Variation (ECO C07, Open Games) is a variation of the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Chistyakov Defense, reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd8 (6 moves).
In 45,321 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 54.1%, Black 38.3% and 7.6% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. O-O, in 71% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Eliskases Variation
The most played answer, 7. O-O, also scores best for White: 58.6%, with White winning 54.7% and Black 37.6% of 32K games. Of the main answers, 7. Nb3 scores lowest: 56.2%. Stockfish's first choice is also 7. O-O.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Eliskases Variation (C07)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/french-defense-tarrasch-variation-eliskases-variation