This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation
The opening moves are: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7. In this line, Black develops the bishop to e7 instead of the more common Bd6 or Nf6, aiming for a solid and flexible setup.
Characteristic: The move 3...Be7 is a quiet, classical development that avoids early confrontations in the center and prepares for safe kingside castling. It reflects a cautious but resilient approach.
Playing Style: For Black, this move is primarily defensive, focusing on maintaining a strong pawn structure and solid piece placement rather than immediate counterattacks. For White, the setup encourages continued pressure on the center, aiming to capitalize on Black’s restrained development.
Center Control: White maintains a strong grip on the center with pawns on d4 and c4, while Black supports the center solidly with pawns on d5 and e6. This variation does not involve an immediate contest of the center but rather a balanced, strategic battle over it.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 1 - Move #9 black
You can also discover how top players used Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.