Wikibooks

Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...dxc4/3. e4

< Chess Opening Theory | 1. d4 | 1...d5 | 2. c4 | 2...dxc4
The latest reviewed version was checked on 26 December 2020. There are 5 pending changes awaiting review.
Queen's Gambit Accepted
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black kinge7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black pawnd4 white pawne4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 black kingd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/8/8/2pPP3/8/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR b

Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4

Queen's Gambit Accepted

edit

3.e4

edit

In this line, white moves immediately to reclaim the "gambit" pawn. The rationale is simple. In most lines of the QGA, white allows black to play ...Nf6 which usually means white has to play f2-f3 in preparation for e3-e4. By playing e2-e4 now, white establishes broad control of the center without losing time. This also has the potential advantage of allowing the c1-bishop to develop unhindered. Also, black is forced to choose a central strategy now or else face being dominated by white's center and development. Black is no worse in these lines, though, than in the classical QGA's, and can obtain counterplay in these lines as well as the others. Here are several options:

  • 3...e5 - The most common reply.
  • 3...c5 - Playing this now can lead to Benoni-like positions.
  • 3...Nf6 - Playing this now can lead to Alekhine-like positions.
  • 3...Nc6 - Takes advantage of the fact white has not played 3. Nf3 to pressurize the d4 pawn.

Trying to hold on to the pawn with 3...b5!? is not advised, as even though the e4 pawn blocks the h1-a8 diagonal, it is still quite risky to hold on to the pawn. After 4. a4! c6 5. axb5 cxb5, the weak diagonal is subject to discovered attacks and queen-bishop batteries. The b5 pawn could soon be in jeopardy and white's attacking opportunities and moderate (but still significant) lead in development gives more than enough compensation for the pawn.

Theory table

edit

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

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4

3456
e4
e5		Nf3
exd4		Bxc4
Nc6		O-O
Be6		=
...
...		...
...		...
Bb4+		Nbd2
Nc6		 +/=
...
...		...
Bb4+		Nc3
exd4		Nxd4
Ne7		 +/=
...
Nf6		e5
Nd5		Bxc4
Nb6		Bd3
Nc6		+/=
...
Nc6		Nf3
Bg4		d5
Ne5		Bf4
Ng6		+/=
...
c5		d5
Nf6		Nc3
e6		Bxc4
exd5		+/=
...
b5!?		a4
c6		axb4
cxb4		Nc3
Qb6		∞
...
...		...
...		...
...		...
a6		=/∞
...
...		...
...		Nc3
b4		Na2
Nf6		=

When contributing to this Wikibook, please follow the Conventions for organization.

References

edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?title=Chess_Opening_Theory/1._d4/1...d5/2._c4/2...dxc4/3._e4&oldid=4443217"