ECO D34 · Tarrasch Defense

Tarrasch Defense: Prague Variation, Main Line

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7

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

8. dxc5+0.35

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Tarrasch Defense: Prague 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, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. dxc5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.35).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.358. dxc5 Bxc5 9. O-O O-O 10. Qc2 d4 11. Rd1 h6 12. Bf4 Be6
  2. +0.338. O-O c4 9. b3 cxb3 10. Qxb3 O-O 11. Rd1 Na5 12. Qb1 h6
  3. +0.318. Bg5 c4 9. Ne5 O-O 10. O-O Be6 11. e3 h6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Tarrasch Defense: Prague 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, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. dxc5 for White, continuing Bxc5 9. O-O O-O 10. Qc2 d4 11. Rd1 h6 12. Bf4 Be6. White is slightly better (+0.35). The next best moves are 8. O-O (+0.33) and 8. Bg5 (+0.31).
Is the Tarrasch Defense: Prague Variation, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.35: 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: Prague 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+).