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Learn the Queen's Gambit Declined with our free interactive trainer. Master the Carlsbad structure, Ragozin Defense, and Exchange Variation for Black against 1.d4. 6 chapters.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6
The Queen's Gambit Declined is Black's most solid answer to 1.d4. Rather than take on c4, Black supports the d5 pawn with 2...e6 and builds a sound structure that is hard to break down. It has been played at every level from club chess to world championship matches. This repertoire covers White's four main third moves - 3.Nc3, 3.Nf3, 3.cxd5 and the rare sidelines - and aims for positions that stay solid while keeping winning chances.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O ...
After 3.Nc3 Nf6, White's most testing try is 4.cxd5 exd5, which fixes the Carlsbad pawn structure. White's standard plan there is the minority attack - pushing b4-b5 to create a weakness on c6 - and Black's counterplay comes on the kingside and in the centre. The alternative 4.Bg5 is covered as a sideline.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 ...
Against 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3, Black plays 4...Bb4, the Ragozin Defense. Pinning the c3 knight is more active than the quiet ...Be7 and fights for the e4 square immediately. This is the sharpest chapter of the repertoire, and it covers White's many fourth and fifth-move tries: 4.g3, 5.cxd5, 5.Qa4+, 5.e3 and 5.g3.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5 exd5 4. Nf3 c6 5. Bf4 Bf5 6. Nc3 Nf6 ...
The immediate 3.cxd5 exd5 reaches the Exchange Variation a move early. Because White has not committed the knight to c3, Black gets a free hand to develop the light-squared bishop to f5 before playing ...c6 - the piece that is usually the problem in the Queen's Gambit Declined. If White brings the dark-squared bishop out early with Bf4, the b2 pawn becomes a target for ...Qb6.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. e3 Nf6 4. a3 Be7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 ...
White has a long tail of quieter third moves: 3.e3, 3.g3, 3.Bf4, 3.Qc2, 3.a3, 3.e4 and 3.Na3. None of them pose real problems, and against several of them taking on c4 becomes a good option precisely because White has spent a move elsewhere. The main line shown is 3.e3, with the rest as sidelines.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 c6 ...
The fianchetto line from the Ragozin chapter, played out by a 2725 grandmaster against a 2757 opponent. Adams gets the light-squared bishop traded off early, accepts a slightly passive position, and then wins by patiently improving his pieces - a good illustration of what Black is playing for in this repertoire.