Queen's Gambit
Classical positional gambit. Pressure on Black's center.
The Queen's Gambit is a White opening defined by 1.d4 d5 2.c4. White offers the c4-pawn to lure Black's d5-pawn away and take the center, but it is not a real sacrifice: White almost always wins the pawn back. Black's main replies are 2...e6, 2...dxc4 and 2...c6.
- ECO code
- D06–D69
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.c4
- Style
- Positional
- Recommended level
- Intermediate
- Played by
- José Raúl Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov
The idea: undermine the d5-pawn
After 1.d4 d5, Black's d5-pawn stops White from playing e4. The move 2.c4 attacks it from the side: if that pawn leaves the center, White can play e4 and occupy the center with two pawns side by side.
Played before Nc3, c4 also avoids blocking the c-pawn behind the knight, and it prepares to open the c-file for a rook. White then has simple developing moves: Nc3, Nf3, Bg5 or Bf4, e3.
The c4 pawn challenges d5 — if Black captures, White gets a strong center with e4
Why it is not a real gambit
A gambit gives up a pawn for activity. Here the pawn almost always comes back: after 2...dxc4, 3.e3 opens the diagonal of the f1-bishop, which recaptures on c4 while developing. With 3.e4 or 3.Nf3, the result is the same, just a little later.
Can Black keep the pawn? Not safely. After 3.e3 b5?, which supports it, 4.a4 attacks b5. If 4...c6 5.axb5 cxb5, then 6.Qf3 hits the a8-rook along the long diagonal, and Black loses at least a piece.
The price of the Declined: the c8-bishop
With 2...e6, Black holds d5 in the most stable way: the e6-pawn supports it, and if White exchanges with cxd5, Black recaptures ...exd5 and keeps a pawn in the center. The drawback is well known: the c8-bishop is shut in behind e6, as in the French Defense.
Much of Black's planning in the Declined is about freeing that bishop. There are three classical routes: ...b6 and ...Bb7, to put it on the long diagonal; ...dxc4 followed by ...e5, which moves the e6-pawn out of its way; or ...c5, which attacks d4 and opens the game.
In the Exchange Variation, after cxd5 exd5, the c8-h3 diagonal opens again and the bishop is no longer a problem. So White looks for another plan there: the minority attack.
Three replies for Black
The d5-pawn is under attack. Black can support it with the e-pawn or the c-pawn, or take on c4. Less common, the Albin Countergambit (2...e5) gives up a pawn for active play; it is mostly met as a surprise weapon.
2...e6, the Queen's Gambit Declined
The most classical reply: Black keeps the pawn on d5 and accepts a locked-in c8-bishop in return for a very solid position. White usually continues with 3.Nc3 and 4.Bg5, or with 3.Nf3.
2...dxc4, the Queen's Gambit Accepted
Black takes without trying to keep the pawn. While White wins it back, Black develops and prepares ...c5 against d4. White chooses between 3.e4, for a big center, and the calmer 3.e3 or 3.Nf3.
2...c6, the Slav Defense
The c6-pawn supports d5 without blocking the c8-bishop, which can still come out to f5 or g4. Solid and flexible, the Slav Defense has its own page.
The Exchange structure and the minority attack
The Exchange Variation of the Declined, with cxd5 exd5, gives the typical pawn structure of the Queen's Gambit, often called the Carlsbad structure. Each side keeps one central pawn, d4 against d5; the c-file is half-open for White, the e-file for Black.
On the queenside, White has only two pawns, a2 and b2, against three Black pawns on a7, b7 and c6. White pushes them anyway, b4 and then b5: this is the minority attack. If Black takes ...cxb5, the d5-pawn becomes isolated; if Black allows bxc6 and recaptures ...bxc6, the c6-pawn becomes a target on the c-file.
The plan is slow: it is prepared with Rab1, sometimes a3 or a4, and pieces ready to attack the weak pawn. Meanwhile Black looks for play on the kingside, with moves such as ...Ng6 and ...Ne4.
White can later push a-b pawns to attack Black's queenside structure
Plans for both sides
White's two plans come from the Exchange structure; Black's two come from the classical Declined, where Black's first goal is to free the position.
White
- The minority attack b4 and then b5 against c6, with the rook on b1 in support: after the exchange, Black is left with a weak pawn on c6 or d5.
- The e4 push With the knight on e2 instead of f3, f3 and then e4: White builds a big center and opens the game where the pieces are already aimed.
Black
- Freeing with ...e5 In the Orthodox Defense: ...dxc4, ...Nd5 and two piece trades, then ...e5. The e6-pawn advances and the c8-bishop can breathe: this is Capablanca's freeing maneuver.
- The fianchetto and ...c5 ...b6 and ...Bb7 put the bishop on the long diagonal; ...c5 then attacks d4 and opens the center.
The Elephant Trap
In the Declined, after 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5, the f6-knight looks pinned: if it moves, the g5-bishop takes the queen on d8. So White thinks 6.Nxd5?? wins a pawn. This is the Elephant Trap, worth knowing from both sides of the board.
Your move, with Black: find the move that wins a piece.
Hint The pin is only an illusion. If the white bishop takes the queen, which black piece can check the king on e1?
Explanation
6...Nxd5! gives up the queen. If 7.Bxd8, then 7...Bb4+, and White has only one legal move: 8.Qd2. After 8...Bxd2+ 9.Kxd2 Kxd8, both queens are gone, but Black has won a knight for a pawn. If White does not take the queen on move 7, White is simply a knight down for a pawn. The right habit for White: leave d5 alone and keep developing with 6.e3 or 6.Nf3.
Common mistakes
They concern both sides and come up often in club games.
- White: exchanging on d5 without a plan. The Exchange Variation makes sense with the minority attack or the e4 push; without either, the position becomes equal and lifeless.
- White: rushing to win back c4. In the Accepted, the pawn is not going anywhere: e3, Nf3 and Bxc4 regain it while developing, whereas an early queen sortie wastes time.
- Black: trying to keep the c4-pawn with ...b5. The a4 push breaks the pawn chain, and the long diagonal often opens onto the a8-rook.
- Black: in the Declined, leaving the c8-bishop without a plan. Without ...b6, ...e5 or ...c5, it stays locked behind e6 until the endgame.
- Black: in the Accepted, forgetting to hit the center. Without ...c5 (or ...e5), White plays e4 and keeps a dominant center.
What the games say
| Rating | Games | White wins | Draws | Black wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000–1399 | 39,457,784 | 54% | 4% | 43% |
| 1400–1799 | 90,319,269 | 53% | 4% | 43% |
| 1800–2199 | 62,981,939 | 52% | 5% | 43% |
| 2200+ | 8,627,327 | 49% | 8% | 43% |
| Moves | Games | Share of games, in % |
|---|---|---|
| 2...dxc4 | 15,106,703 | 38 |
| 2...e6 | 7,636,408 | 19 |
| 2...Nf6 | 6,438,200 | 16 |
| 2...c6 | 4,908,932 | 12 |
| Other moves | 5,367,541 | 14 |
| Moves | Games | Share of games, in % |
|---|---|---|
| 2...dxc4 | 24,410,357 | 27 |
| 2...e6 | 22,705,199 | 25 |
| 2...c6 | 15,858,497 | 18 |
| 2...Nf6 | 14,250,983 | 16 |
| Other moves | 13,094,233 | 14 |
| Moves | Games | Share of games, in % |
|---|---|---|
| 2...e6 | 20,509,741 | 33 |
| 2...c6 | 17,132,397 | 27 |
| 2...dxc4 | 9,444,443 | 15 |
| 2...Nf6 | 7,835,479 | 12 |
| Other moves | 8,059,879 | 13 |
| Moves | Games | Share of games, in % |
|---|---|---|
| 2...e6 | 3,570,162 | 41 |
| 2...c6 | 3,027,265 | 35 |
| 2...dxc4 | 886,255 | 10 |
| 2...e5 | 381,589 | 4 |
| Other moves | 762,056 | 9 |
201,386,319 blitz, rapid and classical games played on Lichess (Lichess opening explorer, October 4, 2026). Lichess ratings, not FIDE Elo.
Practice
This page explains the opening. The lesson makes you play it: you play the moves, the coach comments on each one and offers three levels of hints.
Interactive lesson
Queen's Gambit
About 10 min · 3 variations · You play White
Welcome to the Queen's Gambit! This legendary opening offers a pawn to seize control of the center. It's not a true gambit — White almost always recovers the pawn. You'll learn three main responses and the ideas behind each one!
The lesson's route
1.d4 d5 2.c4 · common moves, then the opponent chooses
- Main line 2...e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 · 4 moves to play
- Queen's Gambit Declined 2...e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 · 4 moves to play
- Queen's Gambit Accepted 2...dxc4 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bxc4 e6 5.Nf3 c5 6.O-O · 4 moves to play
- Slav Defense 2...c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 · 4 moves to play
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen's Gambit really a gambit?
Not really. Black can take the c4-pawn, but White almost always wins it back, often with e3 and Bxc4. If Black hangs on with ...b5, the a4 push breaks Black's pawn chain.
What should Black play against the Queen's Gambit?
The three main replies are 2...e6 (the Declined, very solid), 2...c6 (the Slav Defense, which keeps the c8-bishop free) and 2...dxc4 (the Accepted, which returns the pawn for free play). For beginners, 2...e6 and 2...c6 give the clearest plans.
Queen's Gambit or London System?
The London System (Bf4, e3, c3) is played almost the same way every game and needs little theory. The Queen's Gambit challenges the center on move two with c4: it creates more imbalances, but you need to know Black's replies.
What is the minority attack?
It is a White plan in the Exchange structure (cxd5 exd5): White advances two queenside pawns, b4 and b5, against three black pawns. The goal is a lasting weakness, a backward pawn on c6 or an isolated pawn on d5, which White then attacks with the pieces.
Is the Queen's Gambit good for beginners?
Yes. The developing moves are natural (Nc3, Nf3, Bg5 or Bf4, e3) and the same plans come back from game to game. Above all, know the Elephant Trap and what to do against 2...dxc4.