Chessy
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation with 3...Nf6
After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6, you push 4.e5 and arrive at a famous crossroads in the French Defense. This is the Tarrasch Variation, and the position is already a small edge in your favour according to the engine (+0.65). With over 400,000 games in the database, we know exactly how Black tends to respond — and where they go wrong. Below the interactive drill, you'll find the key ideas, the most common Black replies, and the mistakes you can punish. Set up the position and test yourself against the engine.
Play the French: Tarrasch Variation: Nf6 against the engine
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By playing 3.Nd2 followed by 4.e5, you've chosen the Tarrasch — a solid, space-gaining system. Your pawn on e5 cramps Black's position and restricts their light-squared bishop. Black is forced to deal with the pawn chain immediately. In most games, they retreat the knight to d7 (381,449 games), which is the principled response. Your advantage (+0.65) comes from that space advantage and the fact your pieces can develop freely. Black's main task is to chip away at your centre with ...c5 and ...f6; yours is to keep that centre strong and finish development before they equalise.
The Engine's Best Move: Black Plays Ne4
If you've memorised the Tarrasch as White, you know that 4.e5 is the move — but what does Stockfish suggest Black should do next? The engine's top choice is 4...Ne4, a sharp attempt to disrupt your centre immediately. After 5.Nxe4 dxe4, you should continue with 6.Be3, preparing to develop naturally and recapture the e4-pawn later on your terms. This line scores a superb 59.2% for White across 15,873 games — nearly 60%! Your space advantage remains, and Black's e4-pawn can become a target rather than a strength. Play this position in the drill below and watch how the engine handles it.
How Black Actually Plays (and Where They Blunder)
The overwhelming majority of Black players choose 4...Nfd7 (381,449 games out of 408,283 in the database). It's safe and thematic — Black relocates the knight to d7 and prepares ...c5. White scores 51.0% here, so the battle is only beginning. But the really juicy news is what happens when Black doesn't retreat. The statistics are brutal for the alternatives: - 4...Ng4 is a blunder, losing about 3.7 pawns. Black's knight lands on a square where you can chase it with f3 or h3, and Black has wasted time. White's winning percentage is a staggering 85.8%. - 4...c5 is a mistake (loses ~2.4 pawns). Black tries to open the centre too early. White scores 68.9% here. - 4...Be7 is also a mistake (loses ~2.9 pawns). White scores 79.3%. If your opponent plays anything other than Nfd7 or Ne4, be confident — you're already well ahead.
A Simple White Repertoire Against the Top Replies
Against 4...Nfd7 (the main line), your plan is straightforward: develop your pieces, keep the centre closed, and prepare to meet ...c5 with c3 or by supporting with your pieces. The knight on d2 is ready to jump to f3 or b3. Against 4...Ne4 (the engine's choice), just trade knights and play 6.Be3. That bishop prevents Black from safely pushing ...c5 without preparation, and your queen can later target e4. Against the blunders — Ng4, c5, or Be7 — focus on developing with tempo. Chase the knight with f3 or h3 if it's on g4; against c5, capture and maintain your centre; against Be7, just keep developing and Black will regret their passive or misplaced pieces.
Results across 408,283 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nfd7 | 381,449 | 51.0% |
| Ne4 | 15,873 | 59.2% |
| Ng8 | 10,031 | 50.4% |
| Ng4 | 288 | 85.8% |
| c5 | 177 | 68.9% |
| Be7 | 111 | 79.3% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the main line after 3...Nf6 in the French Tarrasch?
After 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6, the main line is 4.e5, which leads to the position analysed here. Black's most common response is 4...Nfd7, played in 381,449 out of 408,283 recorded games.
Is 4...Ne4 a good move for Black in this position?
According to Stockfish, 4...Ne4 is actually Black's best move — but it's still only good for a small advantage for White (+0.65). White scores a strong 59.2% after 5.Nxe4 dxe4 6.Be3. Black's knight sortie doesn't equalise, and White keeps the space advantage.
What are the biggest mistakes Black can make here?
The three clear mistakes are 4...Ng4 (blunder, loses ~3.7 pawns), 4...c5 (mistake, loses ~2.4 pawns), and 4...Be7 (mistake, loses ~2.9 pawns). White's winning percentages after these moves are 85.8%, 68.9%, and 79.3% respectively.
How many games feature the French: Tarrasch Variation: Nf6?
Over 408K Lichess games have reached the French: Tarrasch Variation: Nf6 position. White wins 51.3%, Black wins 45.1%, with 3.5% draws — based on real rated games.