Queen's Gambit

The idea

After 1.d4 d5 2.c4, White attacks d5 with a pawn from the side. If Black takes on c4, White gets the center with e4 or e3 and wins the pawn back with the bishop. If Black declines, the tension on d5 stays and White builds pressure with Nc3, Bg5 or Bf4, and Nf3.

Black has three main answers. 2...e6 is the Queen's Gambit Declined, the most solid. 2...c6 is the Slav, which keeps the light-squared bishop free. 2...dxc4 is the Queen's Gambit Accepted, which gives up the center for quick development and ...c5. White's plans differ a little against each, but the goal is the same: more space and pressure on Black's center.

Classical, principled chess. White rarely gets a quick knockout, but often gets a small, lasting edge that grows in the middlegame. It has been a favorite of world champions for over a century, and a television series made its name famous far beyond chess.

Players who like a clear plan and a steady build-up rather than sharp tactics. It teaches pawn structures that come up again and again in 1.d4 games.

In the Accepted, do not try to hold on to the pawn yourself as White: just win it back. And as White, look out for the Elephant Trap if you grab on d5 too early.

The main line, move by move

1. 1.d4 · White takes space in the center with the queen's pawn, which the queen already guards, and opens the way for the bishop on c1. A solid, flexible first move.
2. 1...d5 · Black matches it and takes an equal share of the center. The pawn on d5 keeps White's e-pawn from advancing to e4 for free.
3. 2.c4 · The Queen's Gambit: the c-pawn attacks d5. If Black takes, White gets the pawn back and a bigger center; if not, White keeps up the pressure on d5.
4. 2...dxc4 · Black takes the pawn and gives up the center for now. Black cannot keep it, but uses the time White spends winning it back to develop and strike with ...c5.
5. 3.Nf3 · White develops the knight and keeps ...e5 under control before taking the pawn back. The sharper 3.e4 grabs the center at once but lets Black hit back with ...e5.
6. 3...Nf6 · Black develops the knight to its best square, where it controls e4 and d5. White cannot build a two-pawn center with e4 now without preparing it.
7. 4.e3 · White opens the diagonal so the bishop can take the pawn back on c4. The pawn on e3 also props up d4.
8. 4...e6 · Black opens the way for the bishop on f8 and prepares ...c5 and castling. A solid setup that keeps every piece ready.
9. 5.Bxc4 · The bishop takes the pawn back and lands on an active square. Material is equal again, but White still has the d-pawn in the center while Black's d-pawn is gone, so Black will use the c-pawn to challenge it.
10. 5...c5 · Black hits d4 with the c-pawn, the key idea of the whole defense. Trading the c-pawn for White's d-pawn means White is left with no extra center pawn.
11. 6.O-O · White castles before anything else. The king is safe, and Qe2, Rd1 and later dxc5 or d5 are the plans; Black usually continues with ...a6 and ...b5.

Lines to learn: Queen's Gambit

• If 2...e6 (Declined)
• If 2...dxc4 (Accepted)
• If 2...c6 (Slav)

Next moves in book

• 2...b5 · Queen's Gambit Declined: Zilbermints Gambit
• 2...Nc6 · Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense
• 2...c5 · Queen's Gambit Declined: Austrian Defense
• 2...c6 · Slav Defense
• 2...Bf5 · Queen's Gambit Declined: Baltic Defense
• 2...dxc4 · Queen's Gambit Accepted
• 2...e5 · Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit
• 2...e6 · Queen's Gambit Declined
• 2...Nf6 · Queen's Gambit Declined: Marshall Defense

Watch out for

• The Elephant Trap

Related openings

• Queen's Gambit Declined D02–D69 · 138 named lines
• Semi-Slav Defense D30–D49 · 49 named lines
• Queen's Gambit Accepted D20–D29 · 48 named lines
• Slav Defense D10–D19 · 43 named lines