Queen's Gambit
The Queen's Gambit starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4, where White offers the c4 pawn to pull Black's d5 pawn away from the center. White wants a broad center with e4 later, while Black must choose between holding d5 with ...e6 or ...c6 and taking on c4 to free the pieces.
- Moves
- 1.d4 d5 2.c4
- ECO
- D06
- Engine
- +0.20 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 2,040 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 59.7%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Hit d5 with Nc3, Nf3 and a bishop on g5 or f4, so Black has to commit to ...e6 or ...c6 to hold the center.
- Against 2...dxc4, take the center at once with 3.e4 and win the pawn back with Bxc4, as the engine line shows.
- Trade with cxd5 when it helps, leaving Black a fixed d5 pawn you can attack with Nf3, Bf4 and e3.
- Never grab d5 with the knight when Black's knight sits on d7 and your bishop is on g5; the Elephant Trap wins a piece.
Black
- Hold d5 with 2...e6, then ...Nf6, ...O-O and a bishop on e7, and free the game later with ...c5 or ...dxc4.
- Play 2...c6 for the Slav: d5 stays supported and the c8 bishop can still come out to f5 or g4.
- Take with 2...dxc4 only with a plan to hit back in the center, as in the engine line 3.e4 e5.
- Against 2.c4, the Albin idea ...e5 is risky, but it sets the Lasker Trap if White answers with an early e3.
Plans and pawn structure
If Black keeps the pawn on d5 with ...e6, White builds with Nc3, Nf3, a bishop on g5 and e3, and often trades on d5 to prepare a queenside minority push with b4 and b5. Black develops behind the pawn chain and looks for ...c5 or ...e5 to free the position. In the Slav with ...c6, the c8 bishop comes out before ...e6, so Black is safe but a bit slower on the queenside. After 2...dxc4 the center opens: White spends time winning the pawn back, and Black uses that time to strike at d4.
What the Queen's Gambit is about
After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 White offers a wing pawn to win influence in the center. The c4 pawn attacks d5, and if Black ever gives up the center by taking on c4, White gets a free hand to play e4 and build a big pawn center. It is called a gambit, but Black cannot hold the extra pawn safely, so the real question is how Black keeps a fair share of the center.
In 2040 games from this position White scored 59.7%, a high score that shows how hard it is for club players to meet the pressure on d5. The engine sees three good answers for Black, 2...e6, 2...c6 and 2...dxc4, and keeps White only slightly better after each one.
The main replies
The Queen's Gambit Declined, 2...e6. Black supports d5 with a pawn and opens the f8 bishop. The engine line runs 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Bg2, where White fianchettoes and Black hits the d4 pawn. In the classical setup White plays Nc3 and Bg5 instead, and this is where the Elephant Trap lives: after 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5, the grab 6.Nxd5 loses to 6...Nxd5 7.Bxd8 Bb4+, and Black ends up a piece ahead.
The Slav, 2...c6. Black supports d5 with the c-pawn and keeps the diagonal of the c8 bishop open. The engine line 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Bf4 e6 6.e3 shows White choosing a symmetrical exchange structure, which is very safe for both sides.
The Queen's Gambit Accepted, 2...dxc4. Black takes the pawn and gives up the center for the moment. White answers 3.e4, and Black strikes back with 3...e5. After 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 White has the pawn back and good development, while Black has open lines for the pieces.
The Albin Countergambit, 2...e5. Black answers a gambit with a gambit. It is risky, but it sets the Lasker Trap: after 3.dxe5 d4 4.e3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 dxe3, the greedy 6.Bxb4 runs into 6...exf2+ 7.Ke2, and 7...fxg1=N+ is an underpromotion to a knight with check that wins material. White should avoid the early e3 and develop instead.
Typical plans for White
White's plans depend on Black's reply, but a few themes repeat. Against ...e6, White develops with Nc3, Nf3 and Bg5, lines up on d5 and often trades with cxd5 at a good moment. That exchange leaves Black's pawn on d5 and half-opens the c-file. White can then push the b-pawn to b4 and b5 to create a weak pawn on c6. This is the minority attack.
A second plan is a central push with e4. It needs preparation with Nc3, Qc2 or f3, but when it works White gets a broad center and active pieces.
- Against 2...dxc4, play 3.e4 or develop with e3 and Bxc4. Do not chase the pawn with queen checks unless it gains time.
- Against the Slav, Bf4 and e3 give a simple, solid setup.
- Keep the c1 bishop active. In many lines it is White's best minor piece.
Typical plans for Black
Black's main task is to free the position without giving up the center. In the Queen's Gambit Declined the c8 bishop is often stuck behind the e6 pawn, so Black looks for ...c5 or ...e5 to open lines, or plays ...b6 to put the bishop on the long diagonal. The engine line with 4...c5 shows the direct way: Black challenges d4 right away.
In the Slav, Black brings the bishop out to f5 or g4 before playing ...e6, so the classic problem piece is solved early. The cost is that ...c6 takes the c6 square from the knight and makes ...c5 a two-step plan.
- After 2...dxc4, give the pawn back cleanly and hit the center with ...e5 or ...c5.
- In the exchange structures, use the half-open e-file and a knight on e4 to blunt White's minority attack.
- Castle early. Many quick losses come from a king left in the center while the c-file opens.
Mistakes club players make
- Holding the extra pawn after 2...dxc4. Moves like ...b5 to keep the pawn weaken the queenside, and White wins it back with interest. Give it back and develop.
- Taking on d5 in the Elephant Trap position. With Black's knight on d7, the d5 pawn looks loose, but the check on b4 wins back the queen and leaves Black a piece up.
- Playing an early e3 against the Albin. It looks natural, but the Lasker Trap punishes it with a check on b4 and a pawn that runs to g1.
- Locking in the c8 bishop for good. Black players who play ...e6 and never prepare ...c5, ...e5 or ...b6 end up passive.
- Exchanging on d5 too early as White. An early cxd5 often frees Black's game. Trade only when you have a plan such as the minority attack.
Who should play it
The Queen's Gambit suits White players who like strategic chess: slow buildups, clear pawn structures and plans that repeat from game to game. It gives a small edge without big risks, and the high White score shows that the pressure on d5 is hard to meet in practice.
For Black, the choice of reply sets the tone. The Queen's Gambit Declined and the Slav are for players who want a sound position. The Accepted line gives more open play. The Albin Countergambit is for players who want a fight and accept the risk.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.20: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.20 2...e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 c5 5.cxd5
- +0.22 2...c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Bf4
- +0.26 2...dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
2,040 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 59.7%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Traps and pitfalls
Elephant Trap (Black sets it)
White takes the d5 pawn with 6.Nxd5, trusting the pin on the f6 knight. Black breaks the pin with 6...Nxd5, and after 7.Bxd8 Bb4+ White must give the queen back, ending up a piece down.
Lasker Trap (Black sets it)
In the Albin Countergambit, 6.Bxb4 lets the black pawn run to f2 and then to g1. Black promotes to a knight with check and the white king is stuck in the center.
Variations of the Queen's Gambit
- Queen's Gambit Declined2...e6 · 105,431 games
- Slav Defense2...c6 · 39,865 games
- Queen's Gambit Accepted2...dxc4 · 36,618 games
- Marshall Defense2...Nf6 · 19,449 games
- Chigorin Defense2...Nc6 · 8,031 games
- Baltic Defense2...Bf5 · 7,257 games
- Albin Countergambit2...e5 · 5,769 games
- Austrian Defense2...c5 · 2,547 games
- Zilbermints Gambit2...b5 · rare
- Baltic Defense, Argentinian Gambit2...Bf5 · rare
- Semi-Tarrasch Defense, with e32...c5 · rare
- Marshall Defense, Tan Gambit2...Nf6 · rare
- Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation, Costa's Line2...Nc6 · rare
- Classical, Flohr Variation2...dxc4 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, pick one reply and learn its plans rather than every move order. The Queen's Gambit Declined with ...e6 and the Slav with ...c6 both keep d5 firm and need little theory to start. If you take with ...dxc4, do not try to keep the pawn with ...b5; give it back and use the time for ...e5 or ...c5.
Questions
What are the moves of the Queen's Gambit?
The Queen's Gambit starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4. Its ECO code is D06.
Is the Queen's Gambit good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.20 at depth 20, which is level. In 2,040 lichess games from our sample, White scored 59.7%. A sound, mainstream choice for White players who like steady central play and are willing to learn several pawn structures.
What is the main idea of the Queen's Gambit?
White uses the c4 pawn to attack d5 and win more control of the center. Black either holds d5 with ...e6 or ...c6, or takes the pawn and plans to strike back with ...e5 or ...c5 before White rebuilds.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is e6, with c6 and dxc4 close behind. 2...e6 holds d5 firmly and opens a path for the f8 bishop, the most solid way to meet the gambit.
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.