Download PGN of June ’24 French games
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Tarrasch Variation 3...Nf6 4 e5 Nfd7 5 c3 c5 6 Bd3 b6 [C06]
After 3 Nd2, 3...c5 is the choice of a majority of strong players, but 3...Nf6 is still consistently played by numerous French experts. My feeling is that a well-prepared Black can reach equality in every variation. Nevertheless, it takes more work to keep up with the theory of 3...Nf6 than after 3...c5. A potential upside is that you can still come up with new ideas with which to challenge White. There are also many sound sidelines.
After 4 e5 Nfd7 5 c3 c5 6 Bd3, Gdanski, J - Socko, B, Katowice 2024, saw 6...b6:
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Socko has used this move on and off for at least 15 years against strong opposition, as have many of the best-known grandmasters who dabble in the French. It tends to secure a game that is either equal or slightly worse, but solid. In the game 7 Qe2 was played, preventing ...Ba6, but this allowed 7...Nc6 8 Ngf3 cxd4, and White sacrificed a pawn to avoid 9 cxd4 Nb4. 7...cxd4 is another good solution.
Tarrasch Variation 3...Nf6 5 f4 c5 6 c3 Nc6 7 Ngf3 [C05]
Instead of 5 c3, 5 f4 c5 6 c3 Nc6 is still an important variation. In Asadli, V - Martinez, J Alcantara, Chess.com Classic Play-In chess.com 2024, White tried 7 Ngf3:
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This is a solid alternative to the usual 7 Ndf3. White is now able to shore up d4 with Nb3, although he gives up some dynamic ideas on the kingside that 7 Ngf3 provides. White came out better from the opening, but then multiple errors resulted in an exciting game.
Tarrasch, Universal System 3...Nf6 4 e5 Nfd7 5 c3 c5 6 Bd3 Nc6 7 Ngf3 a5 [C06]
I couldn’t resist showing a Blitz game with the Universal System 7 Ngf3 (after 3...Nf6 4 e5 Nfd7 5 c3 c5 6 Bd3 Nc6), because it features two superstars and is full of action. In Praggnanandhaa, R - Erigaisi, A, Superbet Blitz Warsaw 2024, Black chose 7...a5!?, a useful move that doesn’t preclude any of Black’s typical setups.
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I’ve tried to give an overview of ideas here, but it’s very messy and hard to assess. In the game, Black tries to attack and overreaches, but then White returns the favor.
Tarrasch Variation, Universal System 7...cxd4 8 cxd4 Nb6 [C06]
Another Universal System I haven’t covered in the past involves the moves ...cxd4, ...Nb6, ...Bd7, and ...a5, a setup which has a long history versus 7 Ne2, but somewhat less so versus 7 Ngf3.
In Dragnev, V - Vasquez Schroeder, R, Titled Tue 7th May chess.com 2024, the players developed normally and arrived at this position:
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White played b3 and secured his central spatial advantage, but Black achieved his main positional goals on the queenside and ultimately equalized.
Tarrasch Variation 3...Nf6 Mainline 11.0-0 0-0 12.Bf4 Bxf4 13.Nxf4 Ne4 14 Qc1 [C06]
Goryachkina, A - Korkmaz, N, Titled Tuesday 27th Feb Chess.com 2024, saw a well-known variation with 3...Nf6 4 e5 Nfd7 5 c3 c5 6 Bd3 Nc6 7 Ne2 cxd4 8 cxd4 f6 9 exf6 Nxf6 10 0-0 Bd6 11 Nf3 0-0 12 Bf4 Bxf4 13 Nxf4 Ne4 14 Qc1:
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We have seen this many times, but it is still critical if Black is to play 11...0-0. The players followed a much-analysed main line; I try to indicate the easiest path to equality, along with some more complicated options.
Tarrasch Variation 3...c5 4 exd5 Qxd5 mainline, 10...a6 11 Bb3 Bd7 [C07]
3...c5 is the most direct and thematic answer to 3 Nd2, and not a great deal has changed in the most popular continuation 4 exd5 Qxd5 5 Ngf3 cxd4 6 Bc4 Qd6. Bernadskiy, V - Jumabayev, R, Chess.com Classic Play-In 2024 followed the main line after 7 0-0 Nf6 8 Nb3 Nc6 9 Nbxd4 Nxd4 10 Nxd4, and Black chose the traditional move 10...a6:
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The game tested 11 Bb3, with Black having chances to equalize and ending up slightly worse. I also look at 11 Re1 in the notes.
br>Tarrasch 3...c5 4 exd5 Qxd5 mainline, 10...Be7 11 c3 0-0 [C07]
10...Be7 has become a reliable alternative to 10...a6, especially after Giri recommended it a few years back in his French repertoire for Chessable.
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In Sokolovsky, Y - Moussard, J, Sardinia World Open Orosei 2024, White played 11 c3 (I analyse a recent game with 11 b3) 11...0-0 12 Qe2 (11 Qf3 is more common, and also analysed in the notes) 12...a6 , and the game was balanced.
Tarrasch Variation 3...c5 4 Ngf3 cxd4 5 exd5 Qxd5 6 Bc4 Qd7 [C07]
Instead of 6...Qd6, the move 6...Qd7 continues to be a valid alternative, as shown in numerous Archies games. Gadimbayli, A - Harikrishnan, A, Ljubljana 2024, continued 7 Nb3:
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Here 7...Nc6 and 7...Qc7 are recommended for equality. Black tried 7...Bb4+ 8 Bd2 Bxd2+ 9 Qxd2 Nc6 10 Nbxd4 0-0 11 0-0-0 and White had a dangerous lead in development which was hard to counter.
Tarrasch with 3...c5 4 exd5 exd5 5 Ngf3 a6 6 Be2 [C08]
After 3...c5 4 exd5, Black can also play 4...exd5, and recent theory has indicated that this is quite playable. After 5 Ngf3, Martinez Alcantara, J - Mitrabha, G, Chess.com Classic Play-In 2024, tested 5...a6:
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A traditional position that often arises from 3 Nd2 a6 4 Ngf3 c5 5 exd5 exd5. The Black position has withstood the test of time and has always had a few followers among strong grandmasters. Its main drawback is that in certain lines Black has to suffer a very small disadvantage without winning chances. The game has a rare but promising idea for White that gives him a very limited advantage; in any case, Black shouldn’t come close to losing with accurate play.
Tarrasch Variation 3...c5 4 exd5 exd5 5 Ngf3 Nc6 6 Bb5 Qe7+ 7 Be2 Qc7 [C09]
In recent years we have seen many examples of 5 Ngf3 Nc6 6 Bb5 Qe7+, instead of the traditional 6...Bd6 7 dxc5 Bxc5 8 0-0. Black continues to do fine here but theory is hardly resolved. A recent game Jakubowska, A - Heberla, B, Katowice 2024 followed the main line 7 Be2 Qc7 8 0-0 cxd4:
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There are some interesting new games and theory in this position, and players of both colors need to be prepared.
Till next month, John
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