Chessy
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation
After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6, you are in a very practical French Defence branch with White to move. The position is a little better for White, so your job is not to memorise tricks but to know the right reaction and stay solid. The drill below trains the exact position where Black must choose an active plan and avoid drifting into a worse game. Focus on getting your pieces out sensibly and meeting White’s central play with confidence.
Play the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill and practise the exact position against the adapting engine. Create a free account to turn this line into a reliable part of your repertoire.
Create a free account →What the engine wants you to do
Stockfish rates this +0.50, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here.
The engine’s best move is e5, and that tells you the main theme of the position: strike in the centre and keep White from settling comfortably. The suggested continuation is e5 Nfd7 c3 c5, so Black’s play is built around direct central counterplay rather than passive defence. If you remember one thing from this drill, remember that Black should answer White’s central setup with energy of their own.
White’s most common tries
The most played continuation is e5 with 408,364 games, and White scores 51.3% there. That is the line you will see most often, so it deserves your attention in the drill.
Other common choices are Bd3 with 53,770 games and White scoring 53.1%, exd5 with 13,256 games and White scoring 46.8%, Ngf3 with 5,137 games and White scoring 37.2%, f3 with 3,701 games and White scoring 40.9%, and c3 with 2,450 games and White scoring 46.8%. You do not need to memorise a long tree; you do need to recognise which moves are common and which ones are less challenging.
The moves White should not waste
There are a few clear mistakes in this position. exd5 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.8 pawns; Ngf3 is a mistake and loses about 2.5 pawns; f3 is a mistake and loses about 1.7 pawns.
That is useful practical news for Black. If White starts with one of those moves, you should be ready to punish it by playing actively and keeping the centre under control. The best reply remains e5, so the same central idea keeps coming back.
What the database says about the battle
Across 489,441 games at this exact position, White wins 51.1%, draws 3.6%, and Black wins 45.3%.
Those numbers match the engine’s message: White is a little better, but not winning by force. For Black, this is a position where understanding matters more than memorising. If you know when to challenge the centre and when to stay flexible, you can make White work for the advantage instead of giving it away for free.
Results across 489,441 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e5 | 408,364 | 51.3% |
| Bd3 | 53,770 | 53.1% |
| exd5 | 13,256 | 46.8% |
| Ngf3 | 5,137 | 37.2% |
| f3 | 3,701 | 40.9% |
| c3 | 2,450 | 46.8% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the main idea for Black in the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation?
The engine’s best move is **e5**, so the main idea is immediate central counterplay. Black should not sit back passively; the position asks for activity in the middle of the board.
Is this position good for Black?
The engine gives **+0.50**, a small edge for White. You are slightly worse, so your goal is to play accurately and keep the position under control.
Which White move should I expect most often?
The most played continuation is **e5**, with **408,364 games**. That is the move you are most likely to face in practice.
Are there any common mistakes I can punish?
Yes. **exd5** is an inaccuracy, while **Ngf3** and **f3** are mistakes. In all three cases, the engine’s main recommendation is still **e5**.
How many games feature the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation?
Over 489K Lichess games have reached the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation position. White wins 51.1%, Black wins 45.3%, with 3.6% draws — based on real rated games.