Tarrasch - Closed Line 3...Nf6 & 4.e5 Nfd7
Strategic blockade and assault on the f2-e5 chain with ...c5 and ...f6
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ne2 cxd4 8.cxd4 f6 9.exf6 Nxf6 10.Nf3 Bd6 11.O-O Qc7 12.Bg5 O-O
Move by move
- 1.e4 – White takes the center with the pawn and frees the Queen and the f1 Bishop. Against 1.e4 this course answers with the French Defense, which prepares an immediate attack on the e4 pawn.
- 1...e6 – The French Defense: the e6 pawn prepares ...d5 and supports it, so after exd5 Black can recapture with a pawn. The price is the c8 Bishop, shut in behind the e6-d5 chain.
- 2.d4 – White brings the d-pawn alongside e4 and builds the classical center: neither pawn is attacked yet and White gains space.
- 2...d5 – Black attacks e4 at once. White must choose: defend it (Nc3 or Nd2), push it (e5) or exchange it (exd5). Each choice leads to one of the course's chapters.
- 3.Nd2 – Tarrasch Variation: the Knight defends e4 from d2, where it cannot be pinned by ...Bb4, and leaves the c-pawn free. In return it temporarily blocks the c1 Bishop.
- 3...Nf6 – Against the Tarrasch Black attacks e4 at once and invites e5: with the Knight on d2 blocking the c1 Bishop, White will defend the center more slowly.
- 4.e5 – White gains space and drives the Knight away; in return d4 will remain the target of ...c5 and ...Nc6.
- 4...Nfd7 – Retreat to d7: the Knight supports ...c5 and ...f6, the two breaks that attack the white chain.
- 5.Bd3 – The Bishop develops on the h7 diagonal before the g1 Knight, which will go to e2 to support d4.
- 5...c5 – First break: the c-pawn attacks d4, the base of the chain, before White completes development.
- 6.c3 – White supports d4 with the pawn and forms the c3-d4-e5 chain.
- 6...Nc6 – The Knight increases the pressure on d4, now attacked by a pawn and a Knight.
- 7.Ne2 – The g1 Knight defends d4 from e2 and leaves the f3 square to the d2 Knight.
- 7...cxd4 – Black exchanges on d4 to open the c-file and fix the structure before ...f6.
- 8.cxd4 – White recaptures with the c-pawn and keeps the d4-e5 chain, now without the support of c3.
- 8...f6 – Second break: Black attacks e5, the advanced link of the chain, and opens the f-file for the Rook.
- 9.exf6 – White exchanges on f6 so as not to give Black a grip on e5; the e6 pawn will remain backward on the e-file.
- 9...Nxf6 – The Knight returns to f6, from where it controls e4 and g4: Black has active pieces in exchange for the backward e6 pawn.
- 10.Nf3 – The d2 Knight develops to f3, controls e5 and frees the c1 Bishop.
- 10...Bd6 – The Bishop develops actively: it controls e5 and aims at h2.
- 11.O-O – White castles and completes kingside development.
- 11...Qc7 – The Queen controls e5 together with the Bishop and the c6 Knight, preparing the liberating ...e5 push and castling.
- 12.Bg5 – White develops the last piece and threatens Bxf6, which would eliminate a defender of the e5 square.
- 12...O-O – Black castles: the f8 Rook supports the f6 Knight on the open f-file, and the ...e5 push remains on the agenda.
How to exploit the position
Typical structure of the closed Tarrasch: Black has the backward e6 pawn, but in return active pieces, the open f-file and the ...e5 push.
- Prepare ...e5 with ...Bd7 and ...Rae8: the push dissolves the backward pawn and frees the c8 Bishop.
- ...Ng4 attacks h2 together with the d6 Bishop and the c7 Queen, while the f8 Rook presses on f2.
- The c6 Knight can go to b4 to trade the d3 Bishop, White's best attacker.
- White wants to block e5 with Bh4-g3 or Rc1 and attack e6: do not give it the time.
Master tips
The backward e6 pawn is the price of activity
After ...f6 and exf6 Black accepts a weak e6 pawn in exchange for squares and lines: it must play with its pieces, not wait.