French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Closed Variation (variation 2)

This variation focuses on solidifying the center and developing the pieces harmoniously in the early stages of the game.

In this variation, White aims to control the center with pawns on e4 and d4, while Black looks to challenge White's center with moves like d5 and c5. The knight on d2 is a flexible piece that can be rerouted to f3 or c4 depending on the position. Both sides typically castle kingside in this variation, leading to a balanced and strategic middlegame. White often plans to expand on the kingside with moves like f4, while Black may counterattack on the queenside with moves like b6 and a5. The closed nature of the position means that maneuvering and piece placement are crucial for both sides. Players need to carefully plan their pawn breaks and piece exchanges to create imbalances and find winning chances. Overall, this variation leads to rich and complex positions where both players have chances for a successful middlegame plan.