Queen's Gambit
ECO D06 · Queen's Gambit · positional · intermediate
The Queen's Gambit (D06) is a positional chess opening in the Queen's Gambit family, played by White. It arises after the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4. Classical positional gambit. Pressure on Black's center. Recommended for intermediate players.
Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4
About this opening
With 2.c4, White offers a pawn to deflect Black's d5-pawn and take over the center. The gambit is rarely a real sacrifice: if Black takes, White regains the pawn with a better center and freer development. Black's main decisions are whether to accept (Queen's Gambit Accepted), decline solidly with 2...e6, or counter with the Slav's 2...c6. The Queen's Gambit has been the backbone of positional chess since the 1927 Capablanca–Alekhine world championship match, and it remains the most popular way to fight for an opening advantage with 1.d4.