Semi-Tarrasch Defense Opening Theory
♘ Follow me on lichess (write, ask, challenge): @hpy
😎 Become a Patron (extra daily content): www.patreon.com/hangingpawns
🎥 Twitch: www.twitch.tv/hangingpawnstv
💲 Support the channel: www.paypal.me/HangingPawns
👕 Chess merch!: teespring.com/stores/hanging-pawns-chess-merch
The Queen’s Gambit Declined is the most popular way to fight the attempt by white to give up (gambit) his c4 pawn. It has been played by top masters since the 19th century, and it will never lose popularity due to its solidity, flexibility, and the amount of different options it gives to black. In this video I have covered the Semi-Tarrasch, a defense perfect for high level play, and made more interesting as the players’ rating lowers.
It is quite different to the normal Tarrasch Defense, an opening in which black concedes a structural disadvantage for dynamic play by accepting an isolated pawn and a generally worse structure. The Semi-Tarrasch is slow, secure, equal, boring, and risk-free. It makes me mad! I had a look at more than 10 games in the opening and was surprised to see the ease with which strong Grand Masters draw those positions.
White can choose between four different ways to play against it. He can transpose to a normal Tarrasch by not taking on d5 straight away, or he can take (which is much more popular), and once black recaptures with his f6 knight, which is the point behind the Semi-Tarrasch, he can play either e4, e3, or g3. E3 transposes to a Caro-Kann. Most often the Panov, but Exchange Variation as well. G3 lines often end up being the English opening, either symmetrical or Agincourt (Kurajica). E4 is the only truly “independent” line, which is not likely to transpose to something else.
All three moves are unfortunately quite boring and lead to very equal positions in the middlegame. Now I understand why the Semi-Tarrasch is so popular on the highest levels – it’s not risky.
#chess