Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e6/2. d4/2...d5/3. Nd2/3...Nf6/4. e5/4...Nfd7/5. Bd3

Closed Tarrasch C05 French defence → Tarrasch → Closed Tarrasch → 4...Nfd7 5. Bd3 White develops their king's bishop. This clears the way for White to develop Ne2 should they wish. From d3 the bishop eyes Black's kingside. Black's options to develop their pieces are restricted while White's pawn chain on d4 and e5 exists. Black must reckon with this to make progress in the position. 5...c5 attacks the base of the pawn chain. 6. c3 Nc6 and White has the choice to defend the pawn with 7. Ne2, preparing to meet ...Qb6 with Nf3, or gambit the pawn with 7. Ngf3 Qb6 8. O-O cxd4 9. cxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Qxd4 11. Nf3+. ...c5 is Black's best and essentially only way to play. 5. Nc6? c3 and Black cannot bring more attackers to d4. 5. f6? to attack the other end fails right now due to 6. Qh5+!, and 6...g6? 7. Bxg6+!. The move order 5...b6 6. c3 Ba6 7. Bxa6 Nxa6 8. Ne2 c5 to trade off Black's bad bishop before playing ...c5 is occasionally seen. Theory table all 5. ... c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4 f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 Closed Tarrasch + 5. ... ... 6. ... ... 7. Ngf3 Qb6 8. O-O cxd4 9. cxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Qxd4 11. Nf3 Qb6 + 5. ... b6 6. Ne2 Ba6 7. Bxa6 Nxa6 8. c3 c5 9. O-O + References French Defence