Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Réti Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
21,642 games: White 52.0% / Draw 9.6% / Black 38.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 17,37917K | ||
| 2,5982,598 | ||
| 1,1641,164 | ||
| 367367 | ||
| 8686 | ||
| 1313 | ||
| 99 | ||
| 55 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 27, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.22 The position is about equal
Best play: 10... Be7 11. Be3 Bg4 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 d4 14. Bxc6 dxe3 15. Bxb7
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Réti 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. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Na4 (10 moves).
In 21,642 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 52.0%, Black 38.4% and 9.6% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 10…Be7, in 80% of those games.
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How to play against the Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Réti Variation
The most played answer, 10…Be7, also scores best for Black: 44.3%, with Black winning 39.1% and White 50.6% of 17K games. Of the main answers, 10…Bd6 scores lowest: 39.1%. Stockfish's first choice is also 10…Be7.
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
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Réti Variation (D34)”. Lichess data as of 27 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/tarrasch-defense-classical-variation-reti-variation