French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System, Main Line

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C09), reached after 10 half-moves: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 Nc6.

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

Black bishop — 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, Open System, Main Line is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C09. 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 10 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 Nc6.

It belongs to the French Defense family. Within that family this is a level-3 branch (the Tarrasch Variation → Open System → Main Line line). The immediate parent line is French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System, transitioned via 5…Nc6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e6, 2.d4 d5, 3.Nd2 c5, 4.exd5 exd5, 5.Ngf3 Nc6. 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.