Compared to 3.Nc3, the move 3.Nd2 is very passive and slow. It impedes White's Development as it blocks the c1-Bishop, which in turn blocks the a1-Rook. The reason people play it is to avoid pawn structure issues after 3.Nc3.
That said, I've always found it to be weaker than 3.Nc3 (best) or 3.e5 (second best), but better than 3.exd5 (the weakest of the "big four").
3.Nc3 also places pressure on d5, making e6-e5 hard to get in because now now only does Black have to fight over control of e5, he has to do it with d5 not hanging either. It also allows the Bishop to come out immediately. For this reason, moves like 3...c5 are extremely unattractive against 3.Nc3. Black gets an isolated pawn (after 4.exd5 exd5) that is being directly hit by the Knight already, and White can build up on the d5-pawn and likely win it.
With 3.Nd2, Black doesn't have to worry about the d5 weakness if it becomes isolated. After 3...c5! (Black can also play 3...Be7, 3...Nf6, or 3...dxe4) 4.exd5 exd5 5.Ngf3 Nf6 (Some still play the old 5...Nc6, but this modern approach is stronger) 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 8.O-O Be7 9.dxc5 Nxc5 10.Nb3 Nce4, White basically has nothing! There is zero pressure on d5 as the Knights are, rather than on c3 directly hitting d5, on b3 and f3, both 4 moves away from d5. Also, when the Knight was on d2, notice it couldn't ever move to its ideal squares, e4 or c4, because the pawn covers those, and those are Black's primary two outposts, e4 and c4.
If you are looking for an attack on the Black King, play 3.Nc3 rather than 3.Nd2. If you want a positional advantage, predominantly a space advantage, play 3.e5.
If Black knows what he's doing, 3.Nd2 leads to nothing but a dead equal game. If you are happy with a draw, by all means play 3.Nd2, but if you want winning chances, 3.Nc3 or 3.e5 are better.
I also write for the Charlotte Chess Center blog, and about 50 to 75% of my articles are on the French Defense. If you go to www.charlottechesscenter.org, and click on Blog at the top, I wrote an article this past Thursday actually where White gets crushed in the Tarrasch via the 3...Nf6 line by Black rather than 3...c5.
As recent as maybe 25 years ago, the easy draw lines for Black weren't figured out, hence it's extreme popularity in the 80s, but now, most GMs play 3.Nc3 and I get numerous amateurs playing 3.e5 (myself included the few rare times where I'm White).
Here to my problem:
What to Play as White?
After the
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 setup
I like to protect the pawn with a knight, but not 3. Nc3 since 3....Bb4 is better for Black (in my opinion! Even if its not(which you dont have to tell me) it has a mental influence on me)
So I played 3. Nd2 against an engine, and it said it was the “Tarrasch variation”
What is the main Line in Tarrasch, and why are these moves played?
Why would someone Play the Tarrasch?
Is there any traps to avoid as White (or maybe some for Black?)?
Is it a very solid opening, sharp opening or something Else?
Any help is appreciated!!
If you’re just there to tell me I’m too stupid to Play chess or something, my rating is not like yours, please keep your shit.
Thanks for your answers!