The Classical Variation, Main Line is a variation of the Tarrasch Defense, catalogued as ECO D34. The line runs 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Be3 Re8, reaching the position shown below after 22 half-moves.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d5. Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is White to move after 11 moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank; Black’s d-file pawn is isolated; the c-file file is fully open.
On the Tarrasch Defense generally: ECO D32. A chess opening with 26 known variations.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 25 Tarrasch Defense variations →
The Classical Variation, Main Line goes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Be3 Re8. It is a variation of the Tarrasch Defense and is catalogued as ECO D34.
The Classical Variation, Main Line is ECO D34. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Tarrasch Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Be3 Re8 at +0.47 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d5. Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is White to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank; Black’s d-file pawn is isolated; the c-file file is fully open.