Tarrasch Defense: Prague Variation position after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6. White: pawn on d4, knight on c3, knight on f3, pawn on g3, pawn on a2, pawn on b2, pawn on e2, pawn on f2, pawn on h2, rook on a1, bishop on c1, queen on d1, king on e1, bishop on f1, rook on h1. Black: rook on a8, bishop on c8, queen on d8, king on e8, bishop on f8, rook on h8, pawn on a7, pawn on b7, pawn on f7, pawn on g7, pawn on h7, knight on c6, knight on f6, pawn on c5, pawn on d5.
Tarrasch Defense: Prague Variation is a chess opening that arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6. It is classified D33 in the ECO system, and the position after these moves has white to move. The Tarrasch Defense answers the Queen's Gambit with an immediate c5, accepting an isolated queen's pawn in exchange for free piece play and open lines. Siegbert Tarrasch argued that the activity was worth the structural weakness, against the prevailing opinion of his time.
Strategic character
A clean strategic trade-off. Black gets active pieces, open files, and easy development; White gets a permanent structural target on d5 and plays to reach an endgame where the isolated pawn is weak.
Who should play it
Players who prefer active pieces to solid structure and understand how to play with an isolated queen's pawn.
This line is a variation within the Tarrasch Defense family. The strategic ideas above describe the family as a whole; this particular line reaches them by the move order 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6.
Variations continuing from this position
Each of these is a named opening reached by playing on from 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6. Open any of them to load the position on the board.
The Tarrasch Defense: Prague Variation is a chess opening that arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6. It is classified D33 in the ECO system. The Tarrasch Defense answers the Queen's Gambit with an immediate c5, accepting an isolated queen's pawn in exchange for free piece play and open lines. Siegbert Tarrasch argued that the activity was worth the structural weakness, against the prevailing opinion of his time.
What are the moves of the Tarrasch Defense: Prague Variation?
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6. After these moves it is white to move.
Is the Tarrasch Defense: Prague Variation good for beginners?
Players who prefer active pieces to solid structure and understand how to play with an isolated queen's pawn.
What variations come from the Tarrasch Defense: Prague Variation?
Named continuations include Tarrasch Defense: Prague Variation, Main Line, Tarrasch Defense: Wagner Variation, Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Tarrasch Defense: Dubov Tarrasch, Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation, Carlsbad Variation. There are 13 named variations reachable from this position in total.