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Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 · D55–D69

Part of Queen's Gambit Declined

Starting positionWhite to move

0 / 16

An exchange gains time against the bishop

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The idea

The textbook QGD: both sides develop along classical lines and the game turns on whether Black can free the position with ...c5 or ...dxc4 at the right moment.

Main line: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.Rc1 c6 8.Bd3 dxc4

What White wants

  • Recover c4 with the bishop and maintain central pressure
  • Use Rc1 and a knight on e5 to improve piece activity
  • Prepare e4 when development and control of the centre allow it

What Black wants

  • Free the position with ...dxc4 followed by ...c5 or ...e5
  • Use ...Nd5 to exchange active white pieces and ease the cramp
  • Activate the c8 bishop once central exchanges create a route

Key idea

Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.

An exchange gains time against the bishop

Black waits until Bd3 before playing ...dxc4, making White move the bishop again to recover the pawn. This gives Black time to reorganise with ...Nd5 and prepare a central break. Unlike the Exchange QGD, the minority attack is not the defining plan here.

Common mistake

Trading on c4 and then defending without a central break. Once White recovers with Bxc4, Black should use the gained tempo to coordinate ...Nd5, ...c5 or ...e5; waiting lets White's space turn into sustained pressure.

Mistake example: Nd5.

Representative position

The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.

r1bq1rk1/pp1nbppp/2p1pn2/6B1/2pP4/2NBPN2/PP3PPP/2RQK2R w K - 0 9

Analyze this position

Traps in this opening

Moves in this opening that look natural and lose.

Elephant TrapBg5 appears to pin Nf6 to the queen on d8. White assumes Black cannot recapture without losing the queen.
All opening traps

Related openings

Queen's Gambit Declined1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 · D30–D69Black holds d5 with ...e6 and accepts a slightly cramped but extremely solid position — the classical answer to 1.d4 for over a century.Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 · D35–D36White fixes the structure early and plays a clear, plan-based game: the minority attack with b4 and b5 against Black's c6 pawn.Semi-Slav Defense1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 · D43–D49Black combines the Slav and the QGD — ...c6 and ...e6 together — creating a fortress that then expands on the queenside with ...b5.Catalan Opening1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 · E01–E09White combines the Queen's Gambit with a kingside fianchetto, aiming the bishop down the long diagonal at Black's queenside.