This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed, Nunn-Korchnoi Gambit
This gambit arises after the moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ngf3 Qb6 8. O-O. It is a sharp and dynamic line within the French Defense where Black challenges White’s center immediately with ...c5 and applies pressure on the d4 pawn. White’s setup with e5 and Bd3 aims to gain spatial control and restrict Black’s knight on d7.
Characteristic: The hallmark of this line is Black’s early queen sortie to b6, targeting the d4 pawn and increasing pressure on White’s center. The gambit nature lies in Black’s willingness to accept structural concessions or pawn deficits for active piece play and counterattack chances.
Playing Style: For White, this position is primarily attacking, as White seeks to maintain a strong pawn center and develop pieces rapidly to launch a kingside initiative. Black, on the other hand, adopts a counterattacking posture, aiming to undermine White’s center and activate pieces aggressively.
Center Control: Yes, this opening intensely fights for control of the center. White tries to hold and expand in the center with pawns on d4 and e5, while Black challenges this dominance through timely pawn breaks with ...c5 and piece pressure, making central tension a defining feature of the position.
You can also discover how top players used French: Tarrasch, Closed, Nunn-Korchnoi Gambit to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.