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The Tarrasch Variation is named after Siegbert Tarrasch. This move was particularly popular during the late 1970s and early 1980s when Anatoly Karpov used it to great effect. It is still played today by players seeking a small, safe advantage.

The move differs from 3.Nc3 in several respects: it doesn't block the path of White's c pawn, which means he can play c3 at some stage to support the d4 pawn; and it avoids the Winawer Variation because 3...Bb4 can be met with 4.c3 when Black has wasted a move (he has to retreat his bishop).
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Contributors : Dirk Jan Van Dijl, Bruno Bragato

[ECO "C03"] [Opening "French"] [Variation "Tarrasch"]

c5 : 221 games, White ELO av : 1888, Black ELO av : 1913
1-0 : 32.1% , 1/2-1/2 : 38.9% , 0-1 : 29%

Nf6 : 211 games, White ELO av : 1807, Black ELO av : 1790
1-0 : 46.4% , 1/2-1/2 : 23.7% , 0-1 : 29.9%

dxe4 : 77 games, White ELO av : 1756, Black ELO av : 1732
1-0 : 53.9% , 1/2-1/2 : 25% , 0-1 : 21.1%

Be7 : 52 games, White ELO av : 1882, Black ELO av : 1906
1-0 : 25% , 1/2-1/2 : 42.3% , 0-1 : 32.7%

Nc6 : 15 games, White ELO av : 1821, Black ELO av : 1840
1-0 : 53.3% , 1/2-1/2 : 26.7% , 0-1 : 20%

a6 : 12 games, White ELO av : 1990, Black ELO av : 2011
1-0 : 50% , 1/2-1/2 : 33.3% , 0-1 : 16.7%

Ne7 : 5 games, White ELO av : 1835, Black ELO av : 1816
1-0 : 60% , 1/2-1/2 : 40% , 0-1 : 0%

h6 : 3 games, White ELO av : 1929, Black ELO av : 1870
1-0 : 0% , 1/2-1/2 : 33.3% , 0-1 : 66.7%

Nd7 : 2 games, White ELO av : 1594, Black ELO av : 1694
1-0 : 100% , 1/2-1/2 : 0% , 0-1 : 0%

b6 : 2 games, White ELO av : 1816, Black ELO av : 1730
1-0 : 100% , 1/2-1/2 : 0% , 0-1 : 0%

Bb4 : 1 game, White ELO av : 1828, Black ELO av : 1713
1-0 : 100% , 1/2-1/2 : 0% , 0-1 : 0%

a5 : 1 game, White ELO av : 1988, Black ELO av : 1826
1-0 : 0% , 1/2-1/2 : 0% , 0-1 : 100%

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