Queen's Gambit DeclinedD66

Orthodox Defense, Bd3 Line

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3

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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.
... d5d5 occupies the center.
2. c4c4 strikes at the center.
... e6e6 controls d5.
3. Nc3Nc3 develops the knight and controls e4 and d5.
... Nf6Nf6 develops the knight and controls e4 and d5.
4. Bg5Bg5 develops the bishop.
... Be7Be7 develops the bishop.
5. e3e3 controls d4.
... O-OO-O castles short, tucking the king away and connecting the rooks.
6. Nf3Nf3 develops the knight and controls d4 and e5.
... Nbd7Nbd7 develops the knight and controls e5.
7. Rc1Rc1 repositions the rook.
... c6c6 controls d5.
8. Bd3Bd3 develops the bishop and controls e4.

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Other major variations

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

Orthodox Defense, Bd3 Line (D66) · Queen's Gambit Declined · OpeningMate