Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4
| Queen's Gambit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moves: 1. d4 d5 2.c4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ECO code: D06-D69 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent: Queen's Pawn Opening | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Responses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Queen's Gambit
editThe Queen's Gambit is one of the oldest openings in chess and starts with the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4. In it, White sacrifices a pawn in order to gain control of the centre. If Black accepts the gambit with 2... dxc4, White can immediately try to reclaim the gambitted pawn with 3. e4 or 3. e3, or White can play 3. Nf3. This opening is very popular among modern players and is one of the best openings for 1. d4.
Black's responses
editAccepting the gambit with 2... dxc4 is by no means a risky decision, but most Black players choose to decline it with 2... e6 (Queen's Gambit Declined) or 2... c6 (Slav Defence). More exotic alternatives include the 2... Nc6 (Chigorin Defence), the 2... c5 (Austrian Defence) or the 2... e5 (Albin Countergambit).
Less popular is 2... Nf6?!, the Marshall Defence, allowing 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. e4, 2... Bf5!?, which weakens b7, or 2...b5?!, a dubious wing gambit.
Theory table
edit.
1. d4 d5 2. c4
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Eval. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen's Gambit Declined | ... e6 |
Nc3 Nf6 |
Bg5 Be7 |
e3 O-O |
+/= |
| Semi-Slav Defence | ... ... |
... c6 |
Nf3 Nf6 |
e3 Nbd7 |
∞ |
| Queen's Gambit Accepted | ... dxc4 |
Nf3 Nf6 |
e3 Bg4 |
Bxc4 e6 |
= |
| Slav Defence | ... c6 |
Nf3 Nf6 |
Nc3 dxc4 |
a4 Bf5 |
= |
| Chigorin Defence | ... Nc6 |
Nc3 Nf6 |
Nf3 Bg4 |
cxd5 Nxd5 |
+/= |
| Albin Countergambit | ... e5 |
dxe5 d4 |
Nf3 Nc6 |
g3 Bg4 |
+/= |
| Symmetrical Defence | ... c5 |
cxd5 Nf6 |
e4 Nxe4 |
dxc5 Nxc5 |
+/= |
| Marshall Defence | ... Nf6 |
cxd5 Nxd5 |
Nf3 Bf5 |
Qb3 | +/= |
| Baltic Defence | ... Bf5 |
cxd5 Bxb1 |
Qa4+ c6 |
Rxb1 Qxd5 |
+/= |
| Zilbermints Gambit | ... b5 |
cxb5 ... |
+/= |
References
edit- Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.
- Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.