Tarrasch Defense

A weak pawn for free pieces

Sharp play
Isolated pawn

In the Queen's Gambit Black answers 3…c5 and hits the centre at once. He accepts an isolated pawn on d5 and gets active bishops and easy development in return. White will press on that pawn, and Black will play with his pieces. The defence is considered sound, but it demands accuracy and good knowledge of theory.

Interactive Opening Board

7…Be7

♚

Black

♔

White

7…Be7

Speed:

Moves

(14 plies • 7 moves)

7…Be7Tabiya

1–7moves
#WhiteBlack
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Defining move

3…c5 — a blow at the centre

The move that sets the Tarrasch apart from the other Queen's Gambit Declined set-ups

The c5 pawn hits d4 at once, and Black spends no time on passive defence. The price is an isolated pawn on d5 after the exchanges. In return both bishops get open diagonals, and Black has chances of counterplay.

Tabiya

The classical set-up with g3

White has put a bishop on g2 and aims at d5. After castling he can take on c5 and leave the d5 pawn without neighbours. Black gets bishops with open lines and plays for activity. If his pieces are lively, the weakness of the pawn matters little. If not, the endgame will be hard.

White’s plan

Press on d5 with the g2 bishop and the pieces.
Take on c5 and leave d5 isolated.
As pieces come off, head for an endgame against the weak pawn.

Black’s plan

Develop quickly and castle.
Use the open bishop diagonals, especially after …Bb4 or …Be6.
Seek active play before d5 turns into a target.

History

The defence is named after Siegbert Tarrasch. He championed it warmly: in his book Die moderne Schachpartie he marked it with an exclamation mark, while criticising the other Queen's Gambit set-ups.