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

Closed Tarrasch C05 French defence → Tarrasch → Closed Tarrasch → 4. e5 4...Nfd7 This position has some similarities to the Steinitz variation of the classical French (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7) however White has more ways to defend their pawn centre. They retain the option of c3 and may reroute the queen's knight to f3. 5. Bd3 is the main line. White plays the bishop to a very good diagonal first, so that they have the choice to play Ne2 without preventing the bishop's development. Black continues by pressuring d4: 5...c5 6. c3 Nc6. 5. c3 transposes after 5...c5 6. Bd3 Nc6. 5. f4, the pawn centre variation, is a good alternative where White takes space on the king's side and overprotects e5, so making it more difficult for Black to create pressure e.g. by playing ...f6. Theory table all Closed Tarrasch 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4 f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 + 5. ... ... 6. ... ... 7. ... ... 8. ... Nb6 Leningrad variation ++ 5. ... ... 6. ... ... 7. Ngf3 Qb6 8. O-O cxd4 9. cxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Qxd4 11. Nf3 Qb6 + 5. ... ... 6. ... b6 7. Ne2 Ba6 8. Bxa6 Nxa6 9. O-O Nc7 Botvinnik variation ++ 5. f4 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ndf3 Qb6 Pawn centre variation + References French Defence