ECO C05 · French Defense

French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6

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

4. Bd3+0.46

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation (C05), reached after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Bd3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.46).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.464. Bd3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Nf3 Bd7 8. c3 c5
  2. +0.464. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4 f6
  3. +0.104. Bb5+ c6 5. Bd3 dxe4 6. Nxe4 Qxd4 7. Nf3 Qd8 8. Nxf6+ Qxf6

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation?
After 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Bd3 for White, continuing dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Nf3 Bd7 8. c3 c5. White is slightly better (+0.46). The next best moves are 4. e5 (+0.46) and 4. Bb5+ (+0.10).
Is the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.46: white is slightly better. 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, Closed Variation?
C05. 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+).