Tarrasch Defense
The Tarrasch Defense is a unique and important variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined. Black welcomes an unavoidable isolated queen's pawn (IQP) in exchange for active pieces.
Starting Position
The Tarrasch Defense begins 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 (or 3.Nf3) and then comes the defining move, 3...c5.
Pros
- One of Black's most active options against the Queen's Gambit
- Easy piece development
- Promotes active and dynamic play
Cons
- Creates a long-term structural weakness
- Highly theoretical, sometimes 15 moves of book
Key Variations
There is one main variation of the Tarrasch Defense and one important alternative. While the passive 4.e3 is playable, it does not challenge Black's opening choice at all. Recommended and more common is 4.cxd5, when Black must decide how to proceed.
Main Line
The main line continues 4...exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.O-O O-O, although several move orders are possible to reach this position. From here White has a choice between 9.Bg5 or 9.dxc5. The first option threatens the key defender of Black's d5 pawn, the knight on f6, while the latter instantly isolates the d-pawn.
Either way, the game is a battle between Black's dynamic possibilities and White trying to exploit the isolated pawn. Trades will favor White so Black should avoid exchanges.
Schara Gambit
Instead of 4...exd5, Black can gambit a pawn with 4...cxd4. White can recapture immediately with 5.Qxd4 but does better with 5.Qa4+ and the game continues 5...Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5. Black immediately jettisons the isolated pawn and hopes that the wide open center and a lead in development after 7...Nf6 will provide ways to attack.
History
The Tarrasch Defense was introduced by and named after 19th- and 20th-century master Siegbert Tarrasch, who dogmatically considered it the only correct way to play against the Queen's Gambit.
Somewhat forgotten after World War II, the defense played a major role in GM Boris Spassky becoming the world champion. He won game four against GM Tigran Petrosian in their 1969 match, while making four additional draws without losing. GM Garry Kasparov played it in the early 1980s in his rise to challenger status but gave up on it after losing two games in 1984 against GM Anatoly Karpov.
The most recent proponent of the opening is GM Daniil Dubov, who plays 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 instead of 7...Be7. However, other replies to the Queen's Gambit, especially the Slav Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6), remain more popular.