Queen's Gambit Accepted
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 · D20–D29
Part of Queen's Gambit
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 16
The pawn cannot be held for free
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
- 7.
- 8.
The idea
Black takes the pawn and gives up the centre, planning to develop freely and hit back with ...c5 and ...b5.
Main line: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.O-O a6 7.Qe2 b5 8.Bb3 Bb7
What White wants
- Recover the pawn with Bxc4 and build a big centre with e4
- Use the space to attack on the kingside
- Punish the time Black spends defending c4 and b5
What Black wants
- Play ...c5 and ...b5 and develop the bishop to b7
- Trade pieces to relieve the cramp
- Use the extra queenside pawn space in the endgame
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
The pawn cannot be held for free
Black can keep the c4 pawn only by spending moves on ...b5 and ...a6, which gives White the whole centre and free development. Modern practice says it is playable, but Black is defending for a long time.
Common mistake
Trying to keep c4 with ...b5 and ...c6 while neglecting development. White can undermine the pawn chain with a4 and attack the rook on a8 with Qf3 after ...cxb5. Returning the pawn often leaves Black better coordinated than defending it at any cost.
Mistake example: Nc6.
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.
rn1qkb1r/1b3ppp/p3pn2/1pp5/3P4/1B2PN2/PP2QPPP/RNB2RK1 w kq - 2 9
Analyze this position