Tarrasch - Guimard Variation 3...Nc6!?
The surprise line to force White to define the center
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nc6 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nd7 6.Nb3 a5 7.a4 b6 8.Bb5 Na7
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...Nc6 – Guimard Variation: the Knight attacks d4 and leaves the choice between ...dxe4 and ...Nf6 open. The drawback is that it blocks the c-pawn and the ...c5 break.
- 4.Ngf3 – White develops and defends d4; now the e5 push will be supported by the Knight.
- 4...Nf6 – Black attacks e4 and invites e5, after which the Knight will go to d7 and White's center will be attacked with ...f6.
- 5.e5 – White gains space and drives the Knight away; the e5 pawn is defended by d4 and the f3 Knight.
- 5...Nd7 – The Knight returns to d7, from where it prepares ...f6: in this line ...c5 is not immediately possible.
- 6.Nb3 – The d2 Knight frees the c1 Bishop, reinforces d4 and controls the c5 and a5 squares.
- 6...a5 – Black threatens ...a4, which would drive the b3 Knight away from the defense of d4 and c5.
- 7.a4 – White blocks the a-pawn and takes the b5 square for its pieces.
- 7...b6 – Prepares ...Ba6 to trade White's good light-squared Bishop and controls the c5 square.
- 8.Bb5 – The Bishop goes to b5, a square weakened by ...a5 and ...b6: it prevents ...Ba6 and pins down the c6 Knight.
- 8...Na7 – The Knight attacks the b5 Bishop: Black wants to trade it or force it to retreat, and finally frees the c-pawn for ...c5.
How to exploit the position
Closed structure: White has space with e5, Black has conceded the b5 square but prepares ...c5, ...f6 and the trade of White's light-squared Bishop.
- After ...Nxb5 axb5 White's good Bishop is gone and the b5 pawn becomes a target.
- With the c-pawn free, push ...c5 to attack d4.
- The ...f6 break attacks e5 as in all of the closed Tarrasch.
- Develop ...Be7 and ...O-O before opening the game: the black King is still in the center.
Master tips
Do not leave White the good Bishop
In the Guimard Black aims to trade White's light-squared Bishop, with ...Ba6 or with ...Na7xb5.