Queen's Gambit

Offer a pawn, build a fortress

Positional play

Interactive Opening Board

7…b6

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Black

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White

7…b6

Speed:

Moves

(14 plies • 7 moves)

7…b6Tabiya

The b6 pawn prepares the bishop for b7. This is the Tartakower system.

1–7moves
#WhiteBlack
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1.d4 The queen's pawn takes the centre.

1…d5 Black answers in kind and closes the game.

2.c4 The Queen's Gambit starts here. The c4 pawn hits d5 and offers Black a trade for the centre.

2…e6 Black does not take the pawn but backs up d5. This is the Queen's Gambit Declined.

3.Nc3 The knight adds pressure on d5.

3…Nf6 The f6 knight also guards d5 and prepares castling.

4.Bg5 The bishop pins the f6 knight, the nerve of the whole position.

4…Be7 Black breaks the pin and prepares to castle.

5.e3 The e3 pawn secures the centre and opens the road for the f1 bishop.

5…O-O Castling: the king is safe, and White has no quick threats.

6.Nf3 The last knight joins the game.

6…h6 A question to the g5 bishop: retreat or trade.

7.Bh4 The bishop keeps the pin.

7…b6 The b6 pawn prepares the bishop for b7. This is the Tartakower system.

Defining move

2.c4! — a gambit without a sacrifice

The move that makes the opening the Queen's Gambit

The c4 pawn attacks d5 and invites Black to take it. But if Black does, White gets the centre and fast development and wins the pawn back. So Black more often declines: backs up d5 with e6 or c6 and chooses how to build the fortress.

Tabiya

The Tartakower system

The classic position of the Queen's Gambit Declined. White has the d4–e3 centre and pressure on d5, Black a solid defence. Next Black puts the bishop on b7, plays …Nbd7 and waits for a moment to strike with …c5. This is the position of the sixth game of the Fischer–Spassky match in 1972.

The centre

A closed centre and a fight for d5

White has d4 and e3, Black d5 and e6. The centre stays closed until someone decides on c4xd5 or the strike …c5.

Key squaresd5c5e4

Outposts

d5The anchor pawn
Black's whole defence is built around it. While d5 stands, the centre is closed and White has no quick plans.
e4A square for a knight
A knight on e4 trades White's pieces and relieves the pressure, as in the Lasker Defence.

Thematic breaks

c5Black
The …c7-c5 strike
Attack d4 and free the c8 bishop.
What follows: The centre opens and White's d4 pawn often becomes isolated.
b4White
The minority attack b2-b4-b5
After c4xd5, break up Black's pawn structure on the queenside.
What follows: Black is left with a weak c6 pawn, a target for many moves.
e5Black
The …e6-e5 break
Answer in the centre when White has drifted into wing play.
What follows: The game comes alive and Black gets equal chances.

White’s plan

Press on d5 and keep the exchange on d5 in reserve.
Finish development: Rc1, Bd3, castling.
When the moment comes, start the minority attack b2-b4-b5.

Black’s plan

Secure d5 and finish development: …Bb7, …Nbd7, …c5.
Trade pieces before the position gets cramped.
Prepare …c5 or …e5 to free the game.

History

The Queen's Gambit is one of the oldest openings: it is already in the Göttingen manuscript of the late fifteenth century and was analysed by Renaissance masters.