Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code D34, part of the Tarrasch Defense family. It goes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O O-O. White opens with 1. d4 (the queen's pawn) and Black answers 1... d5. After 16 moves it is White to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
1... d5 – Black plays the pawn to d5
2. c4 – White plays the pawn to c4
2... e6 – Black plays the pawn to e6
3. Nc3 – White plays the knight to c3
3... c5 – Black plays the pawn to c5
4. cxd5 – White captures on d5 with the c-pawn
4... exd5 – Black captures on d5 with the e-pawn
5. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
5... Nc6 – Black plays the knight to c6
6. g3 – White plays the pawn to g3
6... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6
The line goes on for 4 more moves; the lesson shows them all.
About the Tarrasch Defense
Against the Queen's Gambit, Black plays ...e6 and ...c5, accepting an isolated d5 pawn for free, active pieces.
The isolated d-pawn gives Black space and open lines for the pieces.
White blockades d4 and trades pieces, hoping to win the weak pawn in the endgame.
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