Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Pillsbury Variation
The Pillsbury Variation is 5.Bg5 against the Semi-Tarrasch, pinning the f6 knight instead of exchanging on d5 first. Black usually releases the tension with ...cxd4 and hits b2 with ...Qb6, while White gives a pawn's worth of structure for fast development and central play.
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c5 5.Bg5
- ECO
- D40, D41
- Engine
- +0.01 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 769 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 51.2%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- After 5...cxd4 6.Nxd4, the d4 knight is centralized and supports e4 after the trades on d5.
- Meet ...Qb6 with cxd5 and e4, as in the top line, building a pawn center after bxc3.
- Against 5...dxc4, play e3 and Qa4+ to win the c4 pawn back with the queen.
- Against 5...Be7, dxc5 and Bxf6 open lines and aim at Black's d5 pawn.
Black
- 5...cxd4 trades the c-pawn for White's d-pawn, giving an Open Sicilian-type balance.
- ...Qb6 hits b2, which lost its defender when the bishop went to g5.
- ...Nxd5 and ...Nxc3 trade knights to blunt White's central pressure after cxd5.
- After ...dxc4, ...Qc7 and ...Bd7 defend while Black finishes development on the kingside.
Plans and pawn structure
The pin on f6 forces Black to act fast in the center. After ...cxd4 and Nxd4, the structure resembles an Open Sicilian: White has more central pawn presence and Black has the half-open c-file. White wants e4, Bd3 or Bc4 and quick castling; Black aims for ...Nc6, ...Be7 and ...O-O while keeping ...Qb6 pressure on b2. Trades on c3 can give White a pawn duo on c3 and e4.
Where the engine's main line heads: Open Sicilian: White traded the d-pawn for Black's c-pawn. An Open Sicilian: White traded the d-pawn for Black's c-pawn. White has a lead in development and the d-file, Black has the half-open c-file and two central pawns.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.01: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.01 5...cxd4 6.Nxd4 Qb6 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.e4
- +0.08 5...dxc4 6.e3 cxd4 7.exd4 Qc7 8.Qa4+
- +0.28 5...Be7 6.dxc5 h6 7.Bxf6 Bxf6 8.cxd5
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
769 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.2%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As Black, play 5...cxd4 and follow with ...Qb6 to exploit the empty c1 square. Avoid 5...Be7, which lets White take on c5 and gain time. As White, recapture with the knight on d4 and get e4 in. Then castle quickly.
Other lines with this name
The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e3.
Questions
What are the moves of the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Pillsbury Variation?
The Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Pillsbury Variation starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c5 5.Bg5. Its ECO code is D40, D41.
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Pillsbury Variation good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.01 at depth 20, which is level. In 769 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.2%. Sharp but balanced; good for White players who like open positions and for Black players who know the ...Qb6 idea.
What is the main idea of the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Pillsbury Variation?
White pins the knight instead of taking on d5. Black answers with ...cxd4 and ...Qb6, hitting b2, and the game becomes an open fight in the center.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is cxd4, with dxc4 and Be7 close behind. 5...cxd4 releases the tension and prepares ...Qb6 against the weakened b2 pawn.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.