Queen's Gambit Declined: Neo-Orthodox Variation, Main Line
The Neo-Orthodox Main Line arrives after 5...h6 6.Bh4 O-O 7.e3, with White's bishop kept on the h4-d8 diagonal and Black castled. Black now picks the plan: ...b6 for the Tartakower, ...Ne4 for the Lasker trades, or ...Nbd7 with a later ...c5.
- Moves
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 O-O 7.e3
- ECO
- D55
- Engine
- 0.00 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 480 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 53.3%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Rc1 is the common reply to every Black system, lining up the rook against c7 before the center opens.
- Bxf6 Bxf6 then cxd5 exd5 and g3, as in the top engine line, aims the bishop at d5 from g2 later.
- Against ...Ne4, take Bxe7 Qxe7 and keep pieces with Rc1, Bd3 and Rxc3 if Black trades knights.
- Against ...Nbd7 and ...c5, trade on d5 and e7 and target Black's c5 pawn with dxc5.
Black
- 7...b6 with ...Bb7 develops the problem bishop and supports a later ...c5.
- 7...Ne4 offers trades on e7 and c3, freeing Black's cramped position step by step.
- ...Nbd7 and ...c5 strike at once, accepting hanging or isolated pawns for activity.
- The h6 pawn means Bxf6 now costs White the bishop pair; keep the dark bishop for that.
Plans and pawn structure
With ...h6 and Bh4 included, Black can force trades with ...Ne4 or prepare ...b6 and ...Bb7 without fearing Bxf6 tricks. White replies Rc1 and either Bd3 or Be2 with short castling. In the ...b6 lines, White often gives up the bishop on f6 and fixes d5 with cxd5, then hits it with g3 and pieces. In ...Ne4 lines, the game simplifies and Black aims for ...c6 and ...e5 to free the c8 bishop.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position 0.00: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- 0.00 7...b6 8.Rc1 Bb7 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.cxd5
- +0.09 7...Nbd7 8.Rc1 c5 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Bxe7
- +0.12 7...Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Rc1 c6 10.Bd3
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
480 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.3%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Tartakower Defense7...b6 · 301 games
- Lasker Defense, Teichmann Variation7...Ne4 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, pick one plan and commit: ...b6 and ...Bb7, or ...Ne4 and trades. Do not mix the two by wasting moves. As White, Rc1 is useful against all of them, so play it before choosing your bishop setup. Bxf6 ideas are always in the air.
Questions
What are the moves of the Queen's Gambit Declined: Neo-Orthodox Variation, Main Line?
The Queen's Gambit Declined: Neo-Orthodox Variation, Main Line starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 O-O 7.e3. Its ECO code is D55.
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Neo-Orthodox Variation, Main Line good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position 0.00 at depth 20, which is level. In 480 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.3%. A respected position for solid Black players who know the Tartakower and Lasker plans; White needs patience more than theory.
What is the main idea of the Queen's Gambit Declined: Neo-Orthodox Variation, Main Line?
Black has castled with ...h6 and Bh4 already included, and now chooses a system: ...b6, ...Ne4 or ...Nbd7. White usually answers with Rc1 and a calm buildup.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is b6, with Nbd7 and Ne4 close behind. 7...b6 prepares ...Bb7, solving the c8 bishop before White sets up pressure.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.