Queen's Gambit Accepted

The idea

After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4, Black does not try to keep the extra pawn. White wins it back with e3 and Bxc4, or grabs the center with 3.e4. Black's plan is quick development with ...Nf6, ...e6 and ...c5, attacking White's d-pawn before it becomes too strong.

In the Classical lines White gets an isolated pawn on d4 after an exchange on d4. That pawn gives White active pieces and attacking chances, while Black aims to blockade it and trade pieces until it becomes a weakness. The fight between the active side and the patient side is the heart of this opening.

Clear and practical. Black gives up a little space but gets a free, healthy game with no bad pieces. It has been used by world champions as a reliable answer to the Queen's Gambit.

Players who want an active defense to 1.d4 2.c4 with clear plans and a good pawn structure. It teaches the isolated queen's pawn position, one of the most useful structures in chess.

Do not try to hold the extra pawn with ...b5 early on: a4 and Qf3 tricks can win material. Give the pawn back and develop.

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.

Next moves in book

• 3.Qa4+ · Accelerated Mannheim Variation
• 3.e3 · Old Variation
• 3.e4 · Saduleto Variation
• 3.Nf3 · Normal Variation

Related openings

• Queen's Gambit Declined D02–D69 · 138 named lines
• Semi-Slav Defense D30–D49 · 49 named lines
• Slav Defense D10–D19 · 43 named lines
• Queen's Gambit D06 · 1 named line