ECO D34 · Tarrasch Defense

Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Main Line

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. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Be3 Re8

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

12. Rc1+0.55

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Main Line (D34), 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. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Be3 Re8, Stockfish 18 recommends 12. Rc1 for White. White is slightly better (+0.55).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.5512. Rc1 Bf8 13. Qd3 Bd7 14. Rfd1 Ne5 15. Qb1 Neg4 16. Bf4 Qb6
  2. +0.4512. Qd3 Ne5 13. Qc2 Bg4 14. h3 Bh5 15. Rfd1 Nc4 16. Bf4 Bg6
  3. +0.3912. Qc2 Ng4 13. Bxd5 Nb4 14. Qb3 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Nxe3 16. fxe3 Bc5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Main Line?
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. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Be3 Re8, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 12. Rc1 for White, continuing Bf8 13. Qd3 Bd7 14. Rfd1 Ne5 15. Qb1 Neg4 16. Bf4 Qb6. White is slightly better (+0.55). The next best moves are 12. Qd3 (+0.45) and 12. Qc2 (+0.39).
Is the Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.55: 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: Classical Variation, Main Line?
D34. 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+).