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  3. /French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Leningrad Variation (C06)
C06

French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Leningrad Variation

Key moves: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6

The Closed Tarrasch features a blocked centre where both sides have clear plans — White builds on the kingside while Black targets the d4 pawn and seeks queenside expansion.

History & Notable Players

A main line that has been tested extensively at the highest levels of chess.

Top Players in this Opening

Navara,D17 gamesIvanchuk, Vassily11 gamesAdams,Mi11 gamesErigaisi,Arjun11 gamesTimman,J10 gamesRadjabov, Teimour8 gamesSvidler, Peter8 gamesGeller, Efim P7 gamesKeres, Paul7 gamesTal, Mihail7 games

Related Openings

C00 - French Defense801C01 - French Defense: Exchange Variation591C02 - French Defense: Advance Variation1180C03 - French Defense: Tarrasch Variation318C04 - French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Guimard Defense, Main Line93C05 - French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation261C07 - French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System597C08 - French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System218C09 - French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System, Main Line250

Best Games

Adams,Mi vs Shirov,A1/2-1/2
WCh Candidates s/f 2007Notable
Fedorchuk, Sergey A vs Radjabov, Teimour0-1
Wch U18 1999Notable
Grischuk, Alexander vs Szymanski, Marcin1-0
Wch U16 1998Notable
Navara, David vs Berkes, Ferenc1-0
Wch U12 1997Notable
Mamedov, Rauf vs Radjabov, Teimour1/2-1/2
Wch U10 1997Notable
Vajda, Levente vs Kasimdzhanov, Rustam1/2-1/2
Wch U20 1997Notable
Grischuk, Alexander vs Grigutavicius, Dainius1-0
Wch U14 Disney 1996Notable
Navara, David vs Schneider, Dmitry1/2-1/2
Wch U12 1996Notable
Navara, David vs Rybansky, Daniel1-0
Wch U10 1994Notable
Chanda, Sandipan vs Grischuk, Alexander1/2-1/2
Wch U10 1993Notable
Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Gdanski, Jacek1/2-1/2
Wch U20 1988Notable
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Timman, Jan H1/2-1/2
Tilburg 1986Notable
Ye Jiangchuan vs Beliavsky, Alexander G0-1
WchT 1985Notable
Kuczynski, Robert vs Ivanchuk, Vassily1/2-1/2
Wch U20 1985Notable
Nepomniachtchi,I vs Erigaisi,Arjun0-1
chess.com SpeedChess 2023 2023
Navara,D vs Michiels,B1-0
77th Tata Steel GpB 2015
Shirov,A vs Kasimdzhanov,R1/2-1/2
World Blitz 2007
Adams,Mi vs Gurevich,M1-0
37th Olympiad 2006
Navara,D vs Stellwagen,D1-0
Corus B 2006
Navara,D vs Radjabov,T1/2-1/2
ECh-u20 2000

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