The Classical Variation, Petursson Variation 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 Re8, reaching the position shown below after 20 half-moves.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d5. Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is White to move after ten 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.
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See all 25 Tarrasch Defense variations →
The Classical Variation, Petursson Variation 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 Re8. It is a variation of the Tarrasch Defense and is catalogued as ECO D34.
The Classical Variation, Petursson Variation 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 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.