Opening for White · ECO D06–D69
Queen’s Gambit in chess
1.d4 d5 2.c4
The c4 pawn attacks d5 to win the center. It isn’t a real gambit: the pawn almost always comes back. A classic, solid and ambitious opening.
The ideas
White
- Attack d5 with c4 to win the center.
- Pin the f6 knight with Bg5.
- In the Exchange: the b4-b5 minority attack.
Black
- Hold d5 with …e6 or …c6.
- Free your game with …c5 or …e5.
- Develop the c8 bishop well.
Main variations
Queen’s Gambit Declined
2…e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 b6
The classical answer: Black holds d5 with …e6, then tries to free the c8 bishop.
Queen’s Gambit Accepted
2…dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.O-O a6
Black gives the pawn back but gains time to hit the center with …c5.
Slav Defense
2…c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4
With …c6, Black holds d5 and can develop the c8 bishop before playing …e6.
Exchange variation
2…e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.Qc2 Be7 7.e3
A fixed structure and clear plans: the b4-b5 minority attack for White.
By the numbers
Black’s replies after 2.c4
The Queen’s Gambit Declined (2…e6) and the Slav (2…c6) are the most played answers. Out of 120.6 million Lichess games.
Traps to know
The Elephant Trap
The f6 knight looks pinned, but …Nxd5 and …Bb4+ win a piece.
With White, don’t take on d5 in this position.
Keeping the c4 pawn costs a lot
In the Queen’s Gambit Accepted, defending the c4 pawn with …b5 opens the long diagonal.
With Black, give the pawn back and develop.
Other openings
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen’s Gambit a real gambit?
Not really. If Black takes on c4, White almost always wins the pawn back, and trying to keep it is risky.
Should I accept or decline the Queen’s Gambit?
Both are fine. Declining with …e6 or …c6 is the most common. Accepting is sound too, as long as you give the pawn back.
How do I remember the Queen’s Gambit lines?
By replaying them on the board instead of rereading them. ChessFlux makes you replay your repertoire move by move and comes back to the moves you forget.