Chessy
The Tarrasch Defense: Bf4 — Black Already Has the Edge
In the Tarrasch Defense: Bf4, after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.Bf4 cxd4, it is White to move — and Black is already in complete control. Stockfish evaluates the position at -2.45, meaning you have a near-winning advantage as Black. The statistics back this up: across nearly 24,000 games, Black scores 53.9%, with only 42.3% going White's way. White's decision now is crucial, and most of their replies are mistakes. In this drill, you'll face the position repeatedly and practise converting this early advantage into a full point.
Play the Tarrasch Defense: Bf4 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Jump into the interactive drill below and face this position from Black's side. Practise converting a -2.45 advantage into a win, and see how the engine punches
Create a free account →Why Black Is Already Winning
The evaluation of -2.45 is not a small edge — it is a near-decisive advantage for Black. How did you get here so quickly? By striking at White's centre early with ...c5, forcing White to capture on d4 with their bishop's pawn. The d4-pawn is now gone, and White's dark-squared bishop on f4 looks active but lacks support. Black has a lead in development and a central pawn on d5 that cramps White's pieces. In the Lichess database, Black's winning percentage of 53.9% is higher than White's, and the 3.9% draw rate shows how one-sided fighting from this position tends to be.
The Critical Reply: Qxd4
The engine's best move is 5.Qxd4, which immediately attacks the d5-pawn. This is also the most popular continuation, seen in over 20,000 games. From that point, the engine recommends Qxd4 Nc6 Qd1 d4 — Black pushes the d-pawn forward to d4, creating a powerful passed pawn and cramping the knight on c3. White scores only 42.8% after Qxd4, so even this best move leaves Black in the driver's seat. If you memorise one reply to Qxd4, make it ...Nc6, developing with a tempo on the white queen.
Punishing White's Most Common Mistakes
Here is where the drill gets interesting: White has several reasonable-looking moves that are actually serious errors. e3 is a mistake that loses about 2.5 pawns, while Nf3 is also a mistake costing roughly 2.6 pawns — both should have been replaced by the better move Nb5. Even Nb1, retreating the knight back to its home square, is labelled an inaccuracy (losing about 0.7 pawns). Against all of these, Black's task is to maintain pressure, activate the pieces, and target White's weakened centre. The drill will show you how the engine reacts to each of these — your job is to find the most punishing continuation.
What the Statistics Reveal About Your Chances
A look at the raw numbers tells a clear story. After Qxd4 (the most common move, 20,479 games), White scores 42.8%. After Nb5 (2,491 games), White scores 44.0%. But look at the less common moves: after e3 (237 games) White scores just 24.5%; after Nf3 (186 games) a terrible 22.0%; and after Bxb8 (113 games) only 30.1%. The message is simple — if White makes anything other than the engine-recommended Qxd4 or the second-best Nb5, your winning chances skyrocket. This is the kind of position where knowing the refutation turns a good opening into a great one.
Results across 23,969 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Qxd4 | 20,479 | 42.8% |
| Nb5 | 2,491 | 44.0% |
| e3 | 237 | 24.5% |
| Nf3 | 186 | 22.0% |
| Nb1 | 150 | 36.7% |
| Bxb8 | 113 | 30.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Tarrasch Defense: Bf4 good for Black at club level?
Yes. The position after 4.Bf4 cxd4 gives Black an evaluation of -2.45, which is a near-winning advantage. In practice, Black scores 53.9% across nearly 24,000 games. Even against White's best reply (Qxd4), Black still has excellent chances, and White's common mistakes are often punished immediately.
What should Black do after White plays 5.Qxd4?
The engine's best response is 5...Nc6, developing a knight with tempo and attacking White's queen. After the queen retreats with 6.Qd1, you push 6...d4, cramping White's knight on c3 and gaining space in the centre. This line matches the top engine continuation and keeps your near-winning edge.
Which White moves are mistakes in this position?
Three common moves are punished in the database: e3 (a mistake losing about 2.5 pawns), Nf3 (a mistake losing about 2.6 pawns), and Nb1 (an inaccuracy losing about 0.7 pawns). In each case, Nb5 was the better choice. The drill will teach you how to capitalise on these errors.
How does the Tarrasch Defense: Bf4 compare to other Tarrasch lines?
The Bf4 variation (ECO D32) is one of the sharpest and most favourable for Black early on. While many Tarrasch lines lead to symmetrical pawn structures and slow play, this variation gives Black the advantage immediately after ...cxd4, thanks to a strong centre and better piece activity.