ECO D32 · Tarrasch Defense

Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 cxd4

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

5. Qa4++0.52

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit (D32), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 cxd4, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Qa4+ for White. White is slightly better (+0.52).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.525. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. Qxd5 Nf6 8. Qd1 Nc6 9. Nf3 Bc5
  2. +0.445. Qxd4 Nc6 6. Qd2 exd5 7. Qxd5 Qc7 8. Nf3 Nf6 9. Qd3 Bb4
  3. −0.965. dxe6 Bxe6 6. Ne4 Nc6 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. Nxf6+ Qxf6 9. g3 Bb4+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 cxd4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Qa4+ for White, continuing Bd7 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. Qxd5 Nf6 8. Qd1 Nc6 9. Nf3 Bc5. White is slightly better (+0.52). The next best moves are 5. Qxd4 (+0.44) and 5. dxe6 (−0.96).
Is the Tarrasch Defense: Schara Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.52: 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: Schara Gambit?
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+).