Answering 1.d4: the Queen’s Gambit Declined
In short
c4 White offers a pawn to deflect Black’s centre. e6 Black declines, keeps a strong pawn on d5 and opens the diagonal for the f8-bishop.
By the end you can
- Play the QGD set-up
- Know why ...dxc4 is not a pawn grab to hold
The lesson
After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 White offers a pawn to deflect Black’s centre. With 2...e6 Black declines, keeps a strong pawn on d5 and opens the diagonal for the f8-bishop. The plan is ...Nf6, ...Be7, ...O-O and later the freeing moves ...c5 or ...e5.
Black’s problem piece is the c8-bishop, which is shut in by the e6-pawn. Strong players free it with ...b6 and ...Bb7, or by an exchange on c4 followed by ...e5.
Key points to remember
- ...e6 keeps the centre solid
- Develop: ...Nf6, ...Be7, ...O-O
- Free the game with ...c5 or ...e5
- Plan for the c8-bishop
Examples
Show the moves
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4 b6
Homework
Play five games with the QGD; after each, check in the explorer where you left the main line.
More openings lessons
- Three golden opening rules (Novice)
- Scholar’s mate and how to stop it (Novice)
- Italian Game: plans, not just moves (Class F)
- Meeting the Sicilian with 2.c3 (Class E)
- From moves to structures (Class D)
- Building a complete repertoire (Class B)