Unlike the regular Tarrasch, in the Semi-Tarrasch Defense Black does not accept an isolated pawn, since they intend to recapture on d5 with the knight (as after 5.cxd5, 5...exd5 has long been known to be dubious after 6.Bg5), but they cede a spatial advantage to White.

The intended recapture with the f6-knight prevents Black from seamlessly transposing to the Semi-Tarrasch if White has played 4.Bg5.

After 4...c5, White usually plays 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e3 or 6.e4, which leads to different types of middlegame play and has attracted the interest of strong players with both colors since the early twentieth century.

From this position, White may choose to inflict the isolated pawn on Black, accept the weakness themselves in return for active piece play, or play 6.a3, with a view to dxc5, followed by b4 and Bb2, aiming for positions in which the extra tempo will come in useful if Black keeps the symmetry; thus, 6...Ne4, once chosen by Bobby Fischer in his Candidates Match with Tigran Petrosian in 1971, gives a different turn.

This opening was also used by Ding Liren against Hikaru Nakamura in their last game of the 2022 Candidates Tournament, the former would later on qualify for the World Chess Championship with this victory and later on becoming the World Chess Champion.