Tarrasch Defense
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5
4. cxd5+0.38
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Tarrasch Defense (D32), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. cxd5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.38).
Top engine moves
- +0.384. cxd5 cxd4 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. Qxd5 Nc6 8. Qd2 Nf6
- +0.284. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 cxd4 6. Nxd4 dxc4 7. e3 Be7 8. Bxc4 Bd7
- +0.174. e3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. a3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 a6 8. O-O b5
All Tarrasch Defense variations (25)
- Grünfeld GambitD321. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. dxc5 d4 7. Na4 b5
- Marshall GambitD321. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. e4
- Schara GambitD321. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 cxd4
- Symmetrical VariationD321. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6
- Tarrasch GambitD321. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. dxc5 d4 6. Na4 b5
- Two Knights VariationD321. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3
- von Hennig GambitD321. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Nc6 6. Qd1 exd5 7. Qxd5 Be6
- Dubov TarraschD331. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5
- Prague VariationD331. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6
- Rubinstein SystemD331. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3
- Swedish VariationD331. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 c4
- Wagner VariationD331. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Bg4
- Classical VariationD341. 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
- Advance VariationD341. 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 c4
- Bogoljubow VariationD341. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. Nf3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Rc1 c4
- Carlsbad VariationD341. 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
- Chandler VariationD341. 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 h6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Rc1 Be6
- Classical Tarrasch GambitD341. 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 d4
- Endgame VariationD341. 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 Be6
- Main LineD341. 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 h6 11. Be3 Re8
- Petursson VariationD341. 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
- Réti VariationD341. 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
- Spassky VariationD341. 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 h6 11. Be3 Bg4
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Tarrasch Defense?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. cxd5 for White, continuing cxd4 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. Qxd5 Nc6 8. Qd2 Nf6. White is slightly better (+0.38). The next best moves are 4. Nf3 (+0.28) and 4. e3 (+0.17).
Is the Tarrasch Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.38: 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 Tarrasch Defense?
D32. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; D is the volume for closed and semi-closed games.
Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).