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 is a classical and solid opening that arises after the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7.
Characteristic: Black chooses to maintain a strong pawn presence in the center with ...e6, supporting the d5 pawn and avoiding early exchanges or weaknesses. The move ...Be7 aims to safely develop the bishop and prepare for castling, while challenging White’s pin on the knight at f6.
Attacking or Defensive: From White’s perspective, this opening is generally more attacking, as White tries to exert pressure on Black’s center and the pinned knight. Black adopts a solid, somewhat defensive stance, focusing on maintaining a strong and resilient pawn structure.
Center Control: The Queen’s Gambit Declined directly contests the center. Both sides fight for control over the central squares, with Black’s ...e6 reinforcing d5 and White’s c4 challenging it. This balance of center tension is a key strategic theme in the opening.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the Queen's Gambit Declined, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 34 - Move #6 white
You can also discover how top players used Queen's Gambit Declined to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.