Tarrasch Defense: Rubinstein System
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Statistics from Lichess
166,303 games: White 47.4% / Draw 8.9% / Black 43.7%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Tarrasch Defense: Prague Variation | 134,333134K | |
| Tarrasch Defense: Swedish Variation | 11,07611K | |
| 8,6438,643 | ||
| 4,1784,178 | ||
| 3,2523,252 | ||
| 1,7971,797 | ||
| 538538 | ||
| 498498 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.20 The position is about equal
Best play: 6... Nf6 7. Bg2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Nb3 Bb4 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Tarrasch Defense: Rubinstein System (ECO D33, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a variation of the Tarrasch Defense: Two Knights Variation, reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 (6 moves).
In 166,303 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.4%, Black 43.7% and 8.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…Nf6, in 81% of those games.
It branches into 2 named variations; the most played are Tarrasch Defense: Prague Variation and Tarrasch Defense: Swedish Variation. In all, 16 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: Rubinstein System
The most played answer, 6…Nf6 (Tarrasch Defense: Prague Variation), also scores best for Black: 49.4%, with Black winning 44.7% and White 45.8% of 134K games. Of the main answers, 6…cxd4 scores lowest: 41.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6…Nf6.
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 (2)
All 16 named lines that continue from here
- D33 Tarrasch Defense: Prague Variation 6 moves
- D33 Tarrasch Defense: Swedish Variation 6 moves
- D33 Tarrasch Defense: Dubov Tarrasch 8 moves
- D34 Main Line 7 moves
- D33 Central Break 7 moves
- D33 Tarrasch Defense: Wagner Variation 7 moves
- D34 Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation 8 moves
- D34 Carlsbad Variation 9 moves
- D34 Classical Tarrasch Gambit 9 moves
- D34 Réti Variation 10 moves
- 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: Rubinstein System (D33)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/tarrasch-defense-rubinstein-system