Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Bogoljubow Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
3,109 games: White 46.9% / Draw 8.6% / Black 44.6%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 1,6861,686 | ||
| 687687 | ||
| 335335 | ||
| 9595 | ||
| 8282 | ||
| 7171 | ||
| 2525 | ||
| 2222 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 24, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.18 The position is about equal
Best play: 11. e3 Rc8 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. b3 cxb3 14. Qxb3 Qd7 15. Ne1 Na5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Bogoljubow Variation (ECO D34, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a chess opening that starts 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. Nf3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Rc1 c4.
In 3,109 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.9%, Black 44.6% and 8.6% were drawn. White's most played move here is 11. Ne5, in 54% 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 Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Bogoljubow Variation
The most played answer, 11. Ne5, also scores best for White: 51.4%, with White winning 46.6% and Black 43.8% of 1,686 games. Of the main answers, 11. Re1 scores lowest: 49.0%. Stockfish's first choice is 11. e3.
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. “Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Bogoljubow Variation (D34)”. Lichess data as of 24 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/tarrasch-defense-classical-variation-bogoljubow-variation