Queen's Gambit DeclinedD35

Exchange Variation, Positional Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5

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Every move explained, never a dead end.

Both sides plans

White's plan

Occupy the center, develop quickly, castle, then pick a wing.

Black's plan

Contest the center before White occupies all of it.

The line, move by move

1. d4d4 occupies the center.
... Nf6Nf6 develops the knight and controls e4 and d5.
2. c4c4 controls d5.
... e6e6 controls d5.
3. Nc3Nc3 develops the knight and controls e4 and d5.
... d5d5 strikes at the center.
4. cxd5cxd5 captures a pawn, strikes at the center.
... exd5exd5 captures a pawn, occupies the center.
5. Bg5Bg5 develops the bishop.

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Other major variations

The complete Queen's Gambit Declined guide See all 198 variations in the branch map

Exchange Variation, Positional Variation (D35) · Queen's Gambit Declined · OpeningMate