Oh, I forgot....

M.J. Carpenter listed 3...a6 as fully respectable.  I am more inclined to place it in the "nearly respectable" category.  Yes, several strong GMs have played it, but the move order has yet to catch on.

For the record, I play 3...Nf6 almost exclusively.  But I do play 3...c5 or 3...Nc6 against specific opponents.

The Universal System was looked at by Neil McDonald in his July 2004 update.

I hope this helps.

Regards

Paul Hopwood

It should also be noted that the 3...c5, 4...exd5 lines are proving quite difficult for White to prove any advantage against.

Playing these as Black has the added benefit that it will make you very happy to play the line (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Bd3) 4...c5 in the Exchange Variation, avoiding the sort of symmetrical postions that some Black players really hate and for which White, by choosing the Exchange, is presumably aiming.  These are far easier for Black imho than, say, the line 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bb5+!?

Hi Martin and everyone else.

As far as I understand, on current evidence the best line for Black is 3...c5 4 exd5 Qxd5, in which black currently seems to stand very well on the basis of Watson's analysis.

However, there is then the small matter of McDonald's universal system...

Attacking ----------------- 3..c5 with a setup of Be7, Nf6, Nc6, Qd6, Bd, O-O-O and pawn storm [/quote]

Could you go into this line a little bit more. Cant white just isolate your pawns, or are you talking about the lines whate black plays Qxd5, thanks.

Thanks for your input, it is some food for thought.

I used to play the Nf6-mainline with an early Qc7 thrown in, avoiding the bishop-exchange on f4. However,  I`ve found that 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ne2 cxd4 8.cxd4 f6 9.exf6 Nxf6 10.Nf3 Qc7 11.0-0 Bd6 12.Bg5 0-0 13.Bh4 Nh5 14. Nc3 is quite annoying, planning Rc1-Na4 etc. This seems like a strong and quite convincing plan for white. This view seems to be supported by McDonald`s assessment and variations in the Adams-Mullon game (C06)

This has made me think that I should abandon the Qc7-line  and just let the queen stay on d8. I have not studied this line, but it seems quite sharp. Is it a viable and sound alternative?

I have also dabbled with the Guimard and noticed that one of McDonalds subscribers sent him the following email:


«Hi Neil,
I read the October update and read only the sad tones in Black side against Tarrasch, and I think you miss the important update about Vaganian's win over Joe Gallagher in Calvia Olympiad.
Against 3.Nd2 Tarrasch, Vaganian used the less explored but super solid 3... Nc6 Guimard variation, equalised easily and even took a full point. It is one of the most French games that I like from Olympiad
I've looked all 3 important lines after 3... Nc6, that is 
4. Bb5 (as the Vaganian's game)
4. c3 (the most interesting reply is 4..e5 ! that makes the structure is no like French anymore, bad bishop are becoming active bishop from move 4 )
4. Ngf3 (continued with 4.. Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 and Black continue with plan f6. ef5 ep Qf6, then prepare for the e5 strike soon)
and it seems that are no forced lines that makes White much better. Only slightly better, mostly are equal, and if White mis-handle this variation (for instance treat it like the variation 3...Nf6), things could be turn very bad for White quickly.
Hope to hear your opinion about this variation.
Thanks
Lucie»

The email does not offer any analysis on the lines, but I seem to remember that in the 4.Ngf3 line, the white plan of going Nf1! before castling, intending Ne3, can be very strong.

I`ve considered avoiding the mainline of the Tarrasch and go 8...Be7!? instead of 8...f6, inspired by the Beshukov-Bischoff game on Chesspub (C05), but my experiences with it are still to few to say anything. McDonald suggests 10...f5, but then what about 11.exf6 e.p.?
____________________________________________________________

Some lose ends here. As you can see have I tried many different things against the Tarrasch, but are yet not satisfied

Tzanidakis_Michael: You mention a line by Capablanca with 3...Nf6 and Bb4+. Could you elaborate which line this is, please?

3..Be7 is a good underrated move which is also poorly covered by theory.
It's not easy for White to counter it:

After 4.Ngf3 Black can traspose the game in a 3..Nf6 variation where  White has already committed the king knight on f3 instead of e2

After 4.Bd3 c5 Black is playing a c5 system out of theory.  He has just to avoid to capture on c5 with the Bishop in case of White's dxc5

Another question is: what is blacks BEST response to the Tarrasch? I have been struggling finding a good response to the Tarrasch, in contrast to the other white 3rd move options.