Caissa Codex
D34

Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Petursson Variation

Chess diagram: Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Petursson Variation after 10…Re8

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

Play any move on the board to explore from there, or step through the line with ‹ › and the arrow keys.

Statistics from Lichess

2,256 games: White 51.6% / Draw 10.0% / Black 38.3%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
857857
765765
128128
9292
8080
7979
6565
5252

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.50 White is slightly better

Best play: 11. Rc1 h6 12. Be3 Bg4 13. h3 Be6 14. Qb3 Qd7 15. Nxe6 fxe6

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Petursson Variation (ECO D34, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Carlsbad 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 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Re8 (10 moves).

In 2,256 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 51.6%, Black 38.3% and 10.0% were drawn. White's most played move here is 11. Rc1, in 38% of those games.

Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.

Write a description or report a mistake
What would you like to send?

Markdown supported (headings ###, bold, lists, links). Submissions are reviewed before publishing.

How to play against the Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Petursson Variation

11. e3 scores best for White: 59.5%, with White winning 53.1% and Black 34.1% of 765 games. The most played, 11. Rc1, scores 58.3% in 857 games, and 11. Bxf6 scores lowest: 42.6%. Stockfish's first choice is 11. Rc1.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 9…cxd4 10. Nxd4 Re8, the position after Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Carlsbad Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Petursson Variation (D34)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/tarrasch-defense-classical-variation-petursson-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/tarrasch-defense-classical-variation-petursson-variation