Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...e6/3. Nc3

Queen's Gambit Declined
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3

Queen's Gambit Declined edit

3.Nc3 edit

After building a pawn center with their first two moves, White begins the development of their minor pieces with 3.Nc3. On c3, the knight controls the d5 and e4 squares. White would like to play e4 at some point to gain even more presence in the center, and 3.Nc3 facilitates this break.

White's dark-squared bishop will likely go to g5 after Black plays Nf6.

Theory table edit

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

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3

3 4 5 6
Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav ...
Nf6
Bg5
Be7
e3
O-O
Nf3
Nbd7
=
Tarrasch Defence ...
c5
cxd5
exd5
Nf3
Nc6
g3
Nf6
=
Semi-Slav Defence ...
c6
Nf3
Nf6
e3
Nbd7
Bd3
dxc4
=
...
Be7
Nf3
Nf6
Bg5
h6
Bh4
O-O
=
Dutch Stonewall ...
f5
Nf3
Nf6
Bf4
c6
e3
Be7
+=

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References edit