Tarrasch French

I'm new please don't kill me 🙂

Recently I've been looking at the French Defence, in particular the Tarrasch Variation.

1.e4 e6
2.d4 d5
3.Nd2 Nf6
4.e5 Nfd7

Exeter Chess Club gives a sharp variation with 5.f4 that runs 5...c5
6.c3 Nc6
7.Ndf3 Qb6
8.g3 cxd4
9.cxd4 Bb4+
10.Kf2 f5
11.Kg2 And White has gained space at the cost of time.

However, I don't see how Black is going to get the QB out. Obviously this is quite important for Black's queenside attack as the c8 square is needed by the rook!

Any suggestions/experiences? Please give lines if you can.

please include the first 4 moves 🙂

I tried to look it up but it seems like the tarrasch has multiple variations before move 5 😉

Oh, sorry, I've fixed it now.

Try key word search "chess database" and see how the GMs played it. The Queen Bishop is a problem for French players. If you are going to play the French Defense you are giong to have to learn how too deal with that problem.

Originally posted by gambit3
Try key word search "chess database" and see how the GMs played it. The Queen Bishop is a problem for French players. If you are going to play the French Defense you are giong to have to learn how too deal with that problem.

Well, I followed it up and a nice line is

11. Kg2 a5
12. Ne2 Ndb8
13. a3 Be7
14. Nc3 Na6
15. h3 Bd7
16. Rh2 Nc7
17. Kh1 O-O
18. Be3
Which looks quite good for Black, maybe continue with Be8 and get the bishop onto that juicy open diagonal and ...Bg6 to safeguard against an eventual g4 from White. Maybe retreat the queen to a7 to advance the b-pawn and distract white. Any thoughts? Perhaps double rooks on the f-file.

I would have played 11. .... Ndb8. 12. Ne2 Bd7. 13. h3 Na6. The game is out of the database I used.

Originally posted by gambit3
I would have played 11. .... Ndb8. 12. Ne2 Bd7. 13. h3 Na6. The game is out of the database I used.

I say if your going to play the french then throw in an early c5.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 for the tarrasch and if 3.Nc3 then you can try the winawer with 3...Bb4

In most lines of the French I do like an early ...c5 but here I think it gives White a good chance to get an open game which is precisely what he wants, particularly as I have the bad QB. The reason I play the French is to stop White from getting the open game he wants. Plus every 1.e4 player I know despises the French (and I mean the defence).

EDIT: Yea I do like to play the Winawer if 3.Nc3

Fritz 5.32 played 11. ....Be7. 12. Ne2 Nf8. 13. Nc3 Ng6. 14.a3 Bd7. 15. f4 0-0. 16. Na4 Qc7. Ect. When I use a database I play moves from the games that won then those that were draws. I never play moves from games where my side lost. You must have a better understanding of this game then I do. Often I have no clue which move to play. Time forces me to play a move at such times.

Originally posted by Positional Player
I'm new please don't kill me 🙂

Recently I've been looking at the French Defence, in particular the Tarrasch Variation.

1.e4 e6
2.d4 d5
3.Nd2 Nf6
4.e5 Nfd7

Exeter Chess Club gives a sharp variation with 5.f4 that runs 5...c5
6.c3 Nc6
7.Ndf3 Qb6
8.g3 cxd4
9.cxd4 Bb4+
10.Kf2 f5
11.Kg2 And White has gained space at the cost of time ...[text shortened]... quare is needed by the rook!

Any suggestions/experiences? Please give lines if you can.

Originally posted by Positional Player
In most lines of the French I do like an early ...c5 but here I think it gives White a good chance to get an open game which is precisely what he wants, particularly as I have the bad QB. The reason I play the French is to stop White from getting the open game he wants. Plus every 1.e4 player I know despises the French (and I mean the defence).

EDIT: Yea I do like to play the Winawer if 3.Nc3

Originally posted by RahimK
It does allow exchange but then you don't have a bad bishop problem, although it would be open and I guess you french defense players don't like that hey?

Hm.. I should use that against you guys then!

Originally posted by Positional Player
In the line 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 it is not hard to White to trade pawns and then pieces to get to an endgame where Black's IQP is a disadvantage.