Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Carlsbad Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
116,010 games: White 47.9% / Draw 9.4% / Black 42.6%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 37,59938K | ||
| Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Advance Variation | 36,79737K | |
| Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Endgame Variation | 20,99021K | |
| 11,68612K | ||
| 2,8642,864 | ||
| 1,5221,522 | ||
| 1,2661,266 | ||
| 1,0311,031 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.30 White is slightly better
Best play: 9... c4 10. e3 Be6 11. b3 cxb3 12. Qxb3 Ne4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Rfc1
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Carlsbad Variation (ECO D34, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Bg5 (9 moves).
In 116,010 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.9%, Black 42.6% and 9.4% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 9…cxd4, in 32% of those games.
It branches into 5 named variations; the most played are Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Advance Variation and Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Endgame Variation. In all, 6 named lines continue from it.
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, Carlsbad Variation
9…c4 (Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Advance Variation) scores best for Black: 51.2%, with Black winning 46.1% and White 43.8% of 37K games. The most played, 9…cxd4, scores 48.0% in 38K games, and 9…h6 scores lowest: 42.1%. Stockfish's first choice is also 9…c4.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Variations (5)
- D34 Classical Variation, Advance Variation 9…c4
- D34 Classical Variation, Endgame Variation 9…Be6
- D34 Classical Variation, Main Line 9…cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Be3 Re8
- D34 Classical Variation, Petursson Variation 9…cxd4 10. Nxd4 Re8
- D34 Classical Variation, Spassky Variation 9…cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Be3 Bg4
All 6 named lines that continue from here
- D34 Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Advance Variation 9 moves
- D34 Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Endgame Variation 9 moves
- D34 Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Main Line 11 moves
- D34 Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Petursson Variation 10 moves
- D34 Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Spassky Variation 11 moves
- D34 Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Chandler Variation 12 moves
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Carlsbad Variation (D34)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/tarrasch-defense-classical-variation-carlsbad-variation