Chessy
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Modern System as Black
After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 a6, you get a position where White has the move, and the main challenge is to stay active without drifting into passivity. The engine says White has a small edge, so this is not a carefree equaliser — but it is a very playable structure if you know what you are aiming for. Use the drill below to practise the most important reply and get comfortable with the plans that follow.
Play the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Modern System against the engine
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Create a free account →What the engine wants you to do
The engine’s best move here is Ngf3. The suggested continuation is Ngf3 c5 dxc5 Bxc5. That tells you the main practical idea: answer White’s setup with active play and be ready to meet the position after the central tension opens. As Black, you want your pieces working, not waiting on the back rank. This is a good opening to learn by feel in the drill, because the position is still flexible but the first choice already matters.
What the numbers say
Across 24,640 games at this exact position on Lichess, White wins 53.9%, draws 3.2%, and Black wins 42.9%. Stockfish rates this +0.53, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse, so your job is not to force fireworks — it is to keep the position healthy and make White prove the extra space or initiative in practice.
The most common White moves
White’s most-played continuations from here are Ngf3 with 10,042 games, Bd3 with 4,775 games, c3 with 3,134 games, e5 with 2,916 games, c4 with 1,064 games, and exd5 with 940 games. That range is useful: White can develop, support the centre, advance, or exchange. For your training, the key is not memorising a long script, but learning to stay organised when White chooses one of these common plans.
The mistake to punish
One known mistake in this position is c4, which is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns; the better move was Ngf3. That is a valuable clue for your practical play: if White rushes the queenside structure too early, it can hand you a chance to respond with more comfort than the position otherwise allows. In the drill, try to notice when White’s move order helps you rather than them.
Results across 24,640 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Ngf3 | 10,042 | 53.9% |
| Bd3 | 4,775 | 57.8% |
| c3 | 3,134 | 55.1% |
| e5 | 2,916 | 50.6% |
| c4 | 1,064 | 48.8% |
| exd5 | 940 | 53.6% |
Frequently asked questions
What opening is this position from?
It is the **French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Modern System** after 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 a6. In this lesson, you play Black and White is to move.
Who is better in the position?
Stockfish gives **+0.53**, which is a small edge for White. So you are slightly worse, but the position is still very playable if you handle it actively and accurately.
What is the engine’s best move for White?
The engine’s best move here is **Ngf3**. The main continuation given is **Ngf3 c5 dxc5 Bxc5**, which shows the kind of active play White is aiming for.
Which White move is a known mistake?
**c4** is marked as an inaccuracy and loses about **0.7 pawns**. The better move in that case was **Ngf3**, so the drill is useful for spotting when White’s move order slips.
How many games feature the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Modern System?
Over 24K Lichess games have reached the French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Modern System position. White wins 53.9%, Black wins 42.9%, with 3.2% draws — based on real rated games.