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: Semi-Tarrasch, 6.e4 Nxc3
Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3
Description: This line arises from the Semi-Tarrasch variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined. After White plays 6.e4, challenging Black’s knight and asserting strong central control, Black responds with 6...Nxc3, exchanging on c3 to disrupt White’s pawn structure and reduce White’s center pawns. This move is characteristic because Black voluntarily accepts a slightly passive position to gain the bishop pair and open lines for counterplay.
Characteristic of 6...Nxc3: This move shows Black’s willingness to trade off an active knight for structural damage to White’s center pawns, aiming for dynamic counter-chances rather than immediate central tension.
Attacking or Defensive Nature: From White’s perspective, the move 6.e4 is aggressive, aiming to seize central space and initiative. Black’s 6...Nxc3 is more defensive and positional, trying to neutralize White’s center and create imbalances to play for counterattack later.
Center Control: White’s 6.e4 is a direct attack on the center, expanding and gaining space. Black’s response seeks to undermine White’s center indirectly by exchanging on c3, so the opening is fundamentally about contesting control of the center with White taking an active stance.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the QGD: Semi-Tarrasch, 6.e4 Nxc3, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 2 - Move #9 white
You can also discover how top players used QGD: Semi-Tarrasch, 6.e4 Nxc3 to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.