D31

Queen's Gambit Declined

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3

The position after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3, Black to move.

In the Queen's Gambit Declined, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.

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The Queen's Gambit Declined is a chess opening classified under ECO code D31. It is reached after the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3: 5 moves in, with Black to play.

Learn its typical plans and pawn structures rather than memorizing moves — that’s what holds up over the board.

Dozens of named variations branch from this position; the list at the end of the page goes one move deeper into each.

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Variations of the Queen's Gambit Declined

Baltic Defense, Pseudo-Slav1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Bf5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6
Austrian Attack, Salvio Countergambit1. d4 d5 2. c4 c5 3. dxc5 d4
Austrian Defense1. d4 d5 2. c4 c5
Austrian Defense, Gusev Countergambit1. d4 d5 2. c4 c5 3. cxd5 Nf6
Austrian Defense, Haberditz Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 c5 3. cxd5 Nf6 4. e4 Nxe4 5. dxc5 Qa5+
Baltic Defense1. d4 d5 2. c4 Bf5
Baltic Defense, Argentinian Gambit1. d4 d5 2. c4 Bf5 3. cxd5 Bxb1 4. Qa4+ c6 5. dxc6 Nxc6
Baltic Defense, Pseudo-Chigorin1. d4 d5 2. c4 Bf5 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 Nc6
Baltic Defense, Queen Attack1. d4 d5 2. c4 Bf5 3. Qb3
Baltic Defense, Queen Attack Deferred1. d4 d5 2. c4 Bf5 3. Nc3 e6 4. Qb3
Marshall Defense1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6
Marshall Defense, Tan Gambit1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. cxd5 c6
Zilbermints Gambit1. d4 d5 2. c4 b5
Chigorin1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6
Chigorin Defense1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6
Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. cxd5 Qxd5
Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation, Costa's Line1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. e3 e5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 exd4 8. Ne2
Chigorin Defense, Janowski Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. Nf3
Chigorin Defense, Lazard Gambit1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 e5
Chigorin Defense, Main Line1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bg4
Chigorin Defense, Main Line, Alekhine Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Qa4
Chigorin Defense, Modern Gambit1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. Nf3 Nf6
Chigorin Defense, Tartakower Gambit1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5
Albin Counter-Gambit1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5
Albin Countergambit1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5
Albin Countergambit, Balogh Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Qe7
Albin Countergambit, Janowski Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 f6
Albin Countergambit, Krenosz Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Nxf3 Bb4+ 8. Bd2 Qe7
Albin Countergambit, Lasker Trap1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. e3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 dxe3
Albin Countergambit, Modern Line1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2
Albin Countergambit, Normal Line1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3
Albin Countergambit, Spassky Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. e4
Albin Countergambit, Tartakower Defense1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 c5
Albin Countergambit, Fianchetto Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. g3
Albin Countergambit, Fianchetto Variation, Be6 Line1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. g3 Be6
Albin Countergambit, Fianchetto Variation, Bf5 Line1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. g3 Bf5
Albin Countergambit, Fianchetto Variation, Bg4 Line1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. g3 Bg4
Slav1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6
Capablanca Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 h6
Semmering Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. Bd3 c5

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