Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...e6/3. Nc3/3...Nf6/4. Bg5/4...Nbd7

Queen's Gambit Declined
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) r1bqkb1r/pppn1ppp/4pn2/3p2B1/2PP4/2N5/PP2PPPP/R2QKBNR w
Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7
ECO code: D51
Parent: Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined

4...Nbd7

With 4...Nbd7, black intends to play the Cambridge Springs Defense, which continues 5. Nf3 c6 6. e3 Qa5. The Cambridge Springs Defense is a solid line of the QGD and is often played both in the amateur level (because of the easier to understand theme) and the grandmaster level. This move also sets a trap that has ensnared quite a few players. White can continue 5. cxd5 exd5, resulting in a position that resembles the QGD Exchange variation (which is fine for both camps), as long as he/she doesn't play 6. Nxd5??. While it superficially appears to win a pawn (because the black knight is pinned), black can capture with his knight with 6... Nxd5!. Then after 7. Bxd8, white has not won black's queen because of 7... Bb4+!, where the only legal move is 8. Qd2, and black gets his/her queen back and emerges a minor piece ahead.

Theory table

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

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7

	5	6	7	8
Cambridge Springs Defense	Nf3 c6	e3 Qa5	cxd5 Nxd5	Qd2 Bb4	=
	cxd5 exd5	e3 c6	Qc2 h6	Bh4 Be7	=
Elephant Trap	... ...	Nxd5?? Nxd5!	Bxd8 Bb4+	Qd2 Bxd2+	-+

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References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.