GM Marian Petrov makes the job easier for you with his move-by-move blueprint—saving your valuable preparation time, neutralizing the opponent’s common pet lines, and a bunch of opening surprises now and then—for impressive victories against the queen’s pawn game.
Need an opening that is equally aggressive as positionally sound against White’s 1.d4?
Without studying hours of opening theory… as in the Dragon or the Grunfeld?
Here’s the Tarrasch Defense for you.
It was a highly popular opening in the 1960s when Spassky used it first in his Candidates match against Geller in 1965…
… and then as a very efficient weapon in his title-winning match against Petrosian in 1969—when he scored 1 win and 4 draws with it.
Even Kasparov was a big champion of this opening who scored phenomenal wins with it in the 1980s, against the likes of Seirawan, Beliavsky, Larsen and Smyslov.
With the …c5 break, you are instantly telling White that you are not in for a slow, closed game. You blow the imaginary battle horn, and even take a few positional drawbacks for a “wild, wild, West” type o’ game.
Take White out of his comfort zone (and also his opening book), and play for the FULL POINT!
GM Marian Petrov makes the job easier for you with his move-by-move blueprint—saving your valuable preparation time, neutralizing the opponent’s common pet lines, and a bunch of opening surprises now and then—for impressive victories against the queen’s pawn game.
Is this course for you?
The Tarrasch Defense is definitely a sound opening as considered by experts. Whether you are a <1500 rated player or a 2400+ one… this opening will pack a punch for your opponent who plays 1.d4.
If you are looking for a fight as Black, avoid struggling with your light-squared bishop and are okay with an isolated queen’s pawn, this opening is for you.
The idea is to finish White even before it reaches the endgame.
Super-explosive to the core.
Loves a fearless fight.
Offers quick, tactical shots.
That’s the Tarrasch Defense for you.
What you will learn:
- Tempo gain with 4.Nf3. With White playing 4.Nf3, take the chance to gain two central pawns pushing back the White’s pieces. How? 4…cxd4 and 5…e5! Learn how to force White on his back foot and tumble into a disaster soon.
- The wayward knight in 5.Qa4+. White’s queen move after Black’s pawn capture on d4… what should Black do? Harass the queen and break open the position to get a White’s knight out in the center, vulnerable and helpless. Let Petrov show you how.
- Push the IQP. A crazy line in the Tarrasch Defense arises when White takes the pawn on d5 first. After …exd5, White can give Black an isolani BUT… what if Black pushes it to d4. Want to know what White’s best replies are and how to play them?
- The c6-pawn weakness averted. A backward pawn on c6 can be tough to play with—especially in an open dynamic position. How would Tarrasch play, though? Learn from the master himself from the game he played against Rubinstein in 1912.
- Kasparov’s amazing knight play. What made Kasparov so dangerous in the Tarrasch Defense? His tactical prowess… and the subtle opportunities abound! If you are a tactical player, check out his games analyses in Chapter 3.
Outline
Chapter 1 4Nf3 and dxc5
Chapter 2 4e3 and 4cxd4
Chapter 3 The Main Line
About the Author
GM Marian Petrov (FIDE 2537)
Is an accomplished professional chess coach, theorist, and Bulgarian champion for 2002 and 2017, as well as winner of many open tournaments around the world. Also a FIDE trainer and coach of the team of Wales at the last Olympiad in Baku in 2016. He graduated from the National Sports Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria with a Bachelor’s degree in Chess Pedagogy, a four-year undergraduate program designed to prepare top-level chess trainers.
