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1.Opening

Queen's Gambit Declined

You play BlackD58ClassicalIntermediate

Hold the center with ...e6. Solid and principled — trusted by world champions for 150 years.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O …

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Tartakower Variation: position after 11 moves1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a
Tartakower Variation: position after 11 moves
2.Ideas

What the opening is about

Key ideas

  1. ...e6 supports d5 rock-solidly; the c8 bishop is the problem piece.
  2. The Tartakower ...b6 + ...Bb7 gives that bishop a real job.
  3. ...h6 asks White's bishop to decide early, which helps Black later.
  4. Expect White's "minority attack" with b4–b5.
3.Main line

Main line · 21 moves

Tartakower Variation

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Your moves Opponent
No. White Black1
d4White claims the center. The d4 pawn is already protected by the queen.
d5Black claims an equal share and physically stops e4.
2
c4The Queen's Gambit: White attacks d5 from the side to pull it away from the center.
e6Declines the gambit by supporting d5 with a pawn. Solid — but the c8 bishop is now shut in.
3
Nc3A second attacker on d5.
Nf6A second defender of d5, and the knight's best square.
After 3…Nf6
After 3…Nf6
No. White Black4
Bg5Pins the knight to the queen, so it's no longer really defending d5.
Be7Breaks the pin, so the knight can defend again.
5
e3Solid: supports d4 and opens the f1 bishop.
O-OBlack puts the king away before anything else happens.
6
Nf3Develops toward the center, covering e5.
h6Asks the bishop: take the knight or retreat. Having h6 in also gives the king a little air.
After 6…h6
After 6…h6
No. White Black7
Bh4The bishop keeps the pin.
b6The Tartakower: prepares ...Bb7 so the problem bishop gets a real diagonal.
8
Be2Calm development, preparing to castle.
Bb7The bishop now supports d5 and eyes the long diagonal.
9
Bxf6White removes the knight that defends d5.
Bxf6Black recaptures and gets the bishop pair.
After 9…Bxf6
After 9…Bxf6
No. White Black10
cxd5White trades in the center to fix Black's pawn on d5.
exd5Recaptures with the pawn, keeping a strong central pawn. The b7 bishop is a bit blocked, but solid.
11
b4The minority attack: White pushes b4–b5 to create a weakness on c6 or d5.
After 11.b4
After 11.b4
4.Play

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5.More

Articles about the Queen's Gambit Declined

More defenses against 1.d4