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.
Opening Name: Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, 5.Bg5 Be7
Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7
Description: This line arises from the Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined. After White exchanges on d5 early, White develops the bishop to g5, pinning Black's knight on f6 and putting subtle pressure on Black's kingside. Black responds with 5...Be7, breaking the pin and preparing to castle safely.
Characteristic of 5...Be7: This move is a flexible, classical developing move, aiming to neutralize White’s pin and maintain solid central control. By playing Be7, Black prepares to castle quickly and keeps the position stable without committing to early counterattacks.
Attacking or Defensive: As White, the setup is mildly aggressive: the Bg5 move targets a key defender of Black’s center and can lead to pressure on Black’s kingside. However, it is not an all-out attack but more positional. As Black, the move Be7 is primarily defensive and solid, focusing on completing development and neutralizing White’s initiative.
Center Control: Both sides maintain tension in the center. White’s early cxd5 exchange leads to symmetrical pawn structures, but both players continue to contest the center with pieces rather than pawns. Thus, while the opening does not involve immediate pawn breakthroughs in the center, it focuses on piece activity and control over central squares.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the QGD: Exchange, 5.Bg5 Be7, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 8 - Move #7 black
You can also discover how top players used QGD: Exchange, 5.Bg5 Be7 to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.