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Queen's Gambit Declined
You play Black · 92 variations
Mixed practice
The machine picks a different variation every time.
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10 positions: find the next theory move in each. No take-backs, no hints.
Main variations · 56
- Orthodox Defense, Main LineD631. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Rc1 h6 8. Bh4 c58 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Classical VariationD691. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxe514 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Classical VariationD681. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5 13. Qb113 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Classical VariationD681. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5 13. Qc213 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Alekhine VariationD671. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Ne411 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Janowski VariationD671. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. h410 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein AttackD651. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Qc2 a6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bd310 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Fianchetto VariationD661. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 c6 5. Nf3 Be7 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 O-O 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 b59 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein VariationD611. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 a6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 Re89 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Bd3 LineD661. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 h6 9. Bh49 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Capablanca VariationD631. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 b6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bb59 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Henneberger VariationD631. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 a6 8. c5 c6 9. Bd39 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Pillsbury VariationD631. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 b6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd39 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein AttackD641. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. a3 a6 9. Qc29 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein AttackD641. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Qc2 Ne48 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein VariationD611. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Rd1 a68 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein VariationD611. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. a38 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein Variation, Flohr LineD621. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c5 8. cxd58 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Swiss, Carlsbad VariationD631. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 a6 8. cxd58 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Botvinnik VariationD601. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Bd3 c67 moves
- Orthodox Defense, Rauzer VariationD601. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Qb37 moves
- Exchange VariationD351. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 Be7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bd3 O-O 7. Nf3 c67 moves
- Exchange VariationD351. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e3 b6 5. Nc3 Bd6 6. cxd5 exd56 moves
- Exchange Variation, Chameleon VariationD351. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Qc2 Re8 9. Nge2 Nf8 10. O-O-O10 moves
- Exchange Variation, Reshevsky VariationD361. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Bd3 h6 9. Bh49 moves
- Exchange Variation, Reshevsky VariationD361. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3 Nbd7 8. Bd38 moves
- Exchange Variation, Carlsen VariationD351. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Bg47 moves
- Exchange Variation, Sämisch VariationD351. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bf46 moves
- Tartakower DefenseD591. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Rc1 Be611 moves
- Tartakower Defense, Exchange VariationD581. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. cxd5 exd58 moves
- Lasker DefenseD561. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Rc1 h6 8. Bh4 Ne48 moves
- Lasker DefenseD531. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Ne45 moves
- Lasker Defense, Russian VariationD561. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4 Ne4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Qc2 Nf6 10. Bd3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 c5 12. O-O Nc6 13. Rfd1 Bd713 moves
- Lasker Defense, Bernstein Variation, Mar del Plata GambitD571. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4 Ne4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. cxd5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 exd5 11. Qb3 Rd8 12. c4 Be612 moves
- Lasker Defense, Bernstein VariationD571. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Nf3 Ne4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. cxd5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 exd5 11. Qb3 Qd611 moves
- Ragozin Defense, Vienna VariationD391. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 dxc45 moves
- Ragozin Defense, Alekhine VariationD381. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+5 moves
- Cambridge Springs Defense, Argentine VariationD521. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. Nf3 Qa5 7. Nd2 Bb4 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Bh49 moves
- Cambridge Springs Defense, Rubinstein VariationD521. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. Nd2 dxc47 moves
- Cambridge Springs Defense, Yugoslav VariationD521. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. cxd5 Nxd57 moves
- Cambridge Springs Defense, Capablanca VariationD521. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. Nf3 Qa5 7. Bxf67 moves
- Harrwitz AttackD371. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. Rd1 Qa5 10. a310 moves
- Harrwitz AttackD371. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. a3 Qa5 10. O-O-O10 moves
- Harrwitz Attack, Two Knights Defense, Blockade LineD371. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c57 moves
- Harrwitz Attack, Fianchetto DefenseD371. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 b66 moves
- Harrwitz Attack, Orthodox DefenseD371. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c66 moves
- Semi-Tarrasch DefenseD401. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. a3 cxd4 7. exd4 Bd67 moves
- Semi-Tarrasch DefenseD411. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg27 moves
- Semi-Tarrasch DefenseD411. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 e65 moves
- Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Main LineD421. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3 Nc6 7. Bd37 moves
- Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Kmoch VariationD411. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bb511 moves
- Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Levenfish VariationD401. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Qe2 Qe7 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. e410 moves
- Semi-Tarrasch Defense, San Sebastian VariationD411. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Nf3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Qa59 moves
- Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Endgame VariationD411. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 cxd4 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. e4 dxe4 8. Qxd8+8 moves
- Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Krause VariationD501. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 c5 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 e5 7. Ndb5 a6 8. Qa48 moves
- Vienna Variation, Quiet VariationD371. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e35 moves
Other variations · 36
- Tarrasch DefenseD321. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Bxe7 Ngxe77 moves
- Tarrasch DefenseD321. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e3 c5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Nc3 a6 7. Be2 Nc67 moves
- Tarrasch Defense, Stoltz VariationD341. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Rc1 b610 moves
- Tarrasch Defense, Pseudo-Tarrasch Bishop AttackD301. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg55 moves
- Capablanca VariationD301. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. Bg5 c6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. e36 moves
- Capablanca VariationD301. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 h64 moves
- Capablanca Variation, Anti-Cambridge Springs VariationD511. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. a36 moves
- Semi-Slav, Abrahams VariationD311. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 b5 7. Bd2 a57 moves
- Semi-Slav, Junge VariationD311. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 b5 7. Bd2 Qb67 moves
- Semi-Slav, Koomen VariationD311. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. e3 b5 6. a4 Bb4 7. Bd2 Qe77 moves
- Queen's Gambit DeclinedD531. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nf3 c6 6. e3 dxc4 7. Bxc47 moves
- Queen's Gambit DeclinedD531. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e46 moves
- Anti-Tartakower VariationD551. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bxf67 moves
- Anti-Tartakower Variation, Petrosian VariationD551. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 c6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O dxc4 11. Bxc411 moves
- Pseudo-Tarrasch Variation, Primitive Pillsbury VariationD501. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 c5 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. Qxd46 moves
- Pseudo-Tarrasch Variation, Canal VariationD501. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 c5 5. cxd5 Qb65 moves
- Alapin VariationD311. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 d53 moves
- Alekhine VariationD511. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. Nf3 c6 6. e46 moves
- Austrian Attack, Salvio CountergambitD061. d4 d5 2. c4 c5 3. dxc5 d43 moves
- Austrian Defense, Haberditz VariationD061. d4 d5 2. c4 c5 3. cxd5 Nf6 4. e4 Nxe4 5. dxc5 Qa5+5 moves
- Charousek Variation, Miladinovic GambitD311. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. e4 dxe4 5. f35 moves
- Janowski VariationD311. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 a63 moves
- Knight Defense, Alekhine GambitD371. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc46 moves
- Manhattan VariationD511. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 Bb45 moves
- Marshall Defense, Tan GambitD061. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. cxd5 c63 moves
- Miles VariationD371. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. Qc26 moves
- Modern Variation, Heral VariationD531. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Bxf65 moves
- Neo-Orthodox VariationD541. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Rc16 moves
- Pillsbury AttackD551. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. Ne59 moves
- Rochlin VariationD511. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. Nf3 c6 6. Rc1 Qa5 7. Bd27 moves
- Semmering VariationD301. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. Bd3 c56 moves
- Spielmann VariationD301. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 c6 5. Nbd2 g65 moves
- Stonewall VariationD301. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nbd2 Ne4 6. Bd3 f56 moves
- Three Knights VariationD371. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. e3 O-O5 moves
- Uhlmann VariationD531. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Rc1 dxc47 moves
- Westphalian VariationD381. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 c56 moves
What is the Queen's Gambit Declined?
The Queen's Gambit Declined starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6. Instead of taking on c4, Black supports d5 with the e-pawn and keeps a firm stake in the center. The classical main road is 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3, after which Black chooses between the Orthodox Defense with ...Nbd7, the Tartakower with ...h6 and ...b6, or the Lasker with ...h6 and ...Ne4. The character is solid and positional, with a semi-closed center and slow manoeuvring. It is one of the most respected defenses in chess and has been played in world-championship matches for more than a century.
Main ideas and plans
Black's recurring problem is the light-squared bishop on c8, shut in by the pawn on e6, and each main line solves it differently. In the Orthodox Defense the classic answer is Capablanca's freeing manoeuvre, seen in the Classical Variation: 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 9.Bxc4 Nd5. Black trades pieces and then plays ...e5 to free the bishop. The Tartakower, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 b6, puts the bishop on b7 and often accepts hanging pawns on c5 and d5. The Lasker, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 Ne4, trades two pairs of minor pieces for a safe, simple game.
The Exchange Variation, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5, gives the Carlsbad structure. White's standard plan is the minority attack with b4 and b5 to leave Black a weak pawn on c6; Black's counterplay comes on the kingside with ...Ne4 or ...f5, and by trading light-squared bishops with ...Bf5 when allowed. In every line the key breaks are ...c5 and ...e5; playing one at the right moment turns a passive position into an equal one.
Who is it for?
The QGD suits patient, classical players who prefer a sound structure to early tactics, and it serves you at every level. The downside is that a passive version can leave you defending for a long time, and it is hard to play for a win against a cautious opponent. Learn the ...c5 and ...e5 breaks and the Carlsbad plans first. Also know the Elephant Trap, which wins a piece if White grabs on d5 too early: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Nxd5 Nxd5 7.Bxd8 Bb4+ 8.Qd2 Bxd2+ 9.Kxd2 Kxd8.