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Queen's Gambit Declined

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 · D30–D69

Part of Queen's Gambit

Starting positionWhite to move

0 / 14

e6 is solid, and it costs the c8 bishop

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The idea

Black holds d5 with ...e6 and accepts a slightly cramped but extremely solid position — the classical answer to 1.d4 for over a century.

Main line: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 b6

What White wants

  • Use Bg5, e3 and Nf3 to develop while maintaining central pressure
  • Choose cxd5 when the resulting Carlsbad structure suits the plan
  • Prepare e4 with pieces or improve activity on the c-file

What Black wants

  • Hold d5 and free the position with ...c5 or ...dxc4
  • Solve the c8 bishop with ...b6 and ...Bb7 or by trading it
  • Trade into a sound endgame where the space matters less

Key idea

Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.

e6 is solid, and it costs the c8 bishop

...e6 defends d5 permanently but shuts in the bishop on c8. Every QGD plan for Black — ...b6, ...Bb7, ...dxc4 and ...Bd7–b5 — exists to solve the problem of that one piece.

Common mistake

Treating ...e6 as a complete defensive plan. The c8 bishop is restricted, so Black needs a timely central break or a route such as ...b6 and ...Bb7. A standard ...c6 and ...Nbd7 setup is sound, but cannot replace active follow-up.

Mistake example: Nbd7.

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.

rnbq1rk1/p1p1bpp1/1p2pn1p/3p4/2PP3B/2N1PN2/PP3PPP/R2QKB1R w KQ - 0 8

Analyze this position

Variations

2 lines branching from here.

Related openings

Queen's Gambit1.d4 d5 2.c4 · D06–D69White offers the c-pawn to deflect Black's d5 pawn, aiming to own the centre — not a real gambit, because the pawn is almost always recovered.Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 · D55–D69The 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.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.Slav Defense1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 · D10–D19Black defends d5 with the c-pawn instead of the e-pawn, keeping the bishop on c8 free to develop actively to f5.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.Queen's Gambit Accepted1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 · D20–D29Black takes the pawn and gives up the centre, planning to develop freely and hit back with ...c5 and ...b5.