Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...dxc4/3. e3

Queen's Gambit Accepted
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation(FEN) rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/8/8/2pP4/4P3/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR

Queen's Gambit Accepted

3. e3

This move is not quite so popular as the main lines 3. e4 or 3. Nf3, but respectable nonetheless. It is a more conservative move. White opts to defend d4 instead of taking the center with pawns. Black cannot try to hold on to his c-pawn because of the famous trap 3...b5 4. a4! c6 5. axb5! cxb5?? 6. Qf3! when Black must part with at least a minor piece.

Common Black continuations include:

• 3... e5 - a newer, aggressive move that tries to open up the position and likely results in an isolated queen pawn for white (4. dxe5? fails to 4...Qxd1! when white loses castling rights).
• 3... e6 - The more classical, conservative approach, although it results in limited mobility for the light-squared bishop.
• 3... Nf6 - Typical developing move. White then usually takes the c-pawn.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables see theory table and for notation see algebraic notation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3

	2
	e6 ...	+=
	e5 ...	=
	Nf6 ...	=

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References

• Batsford Chess Openings 2 (1989, 1994). Garry Kasparov, Raymond Keene. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.