French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Modern System

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C03), reached after 6 half-moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 a6.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black knight — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Modern System is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C03. ECO group C (C00–C99) covers open games (1.e4 e5) and the French Defence, including the Ruy Lopez, Italian, Scotch and King's Gambit. This particular variation is reached after 6 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 a6.

It belongs to the French Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Tarrasch Variation → Modern System line). The immediate parent line is French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, transitioned via 3…a6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e6, 2.d4 d5, 3.Nd2 a6. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.