ECO C03 · French Defense

French Defense: Tarrasch Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3… c5+0.26

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation (C03), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… c5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.26).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.263… c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bc4 Qd8 7. O-O Nf6 8. Qe2
  2. +0.453… a6 4. Bd3 c5 5. Ngf3 c4 6. Be2 b5 7. e5 Ne7 8. c3
  3. +0.463… dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bd3 c5 8. dxc5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… c5 for Black, continuing 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bc4 Qd8 7. O-O Nf6 8. Qe2. The position is roughly equal (+0.26). The next best moves are 3… a6 (+0.45) and 3… dxe4 (+0.46).
Is the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.26: the position is roughly equal. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation?
C03. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).