Axe3 Cxb5 less attractive (though it is still not bad and ac

10 b3 a5 (D) tually played quite often) which means that

This is the point and the reason why the Black is also limited in his choices. He will

Noteboom Variation has deserved its promi want to develop his queen's bishop to f5 but
nent place in chess thcory. After Il bxc4 b4 12 first5.c66e3 Af57 g4and secondly S...5f66
Qb2 f6 it turns out that Black has managed e3Ar5 7 Wb3 need to be properly evaluated.

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 15

These lines are pretty sharp.but the amount of which many players, satisfied with this achieve
theory involved is moderate compared to the ment, will be happy to withdraw their queen (9
'regular'Exchange Variation. Dxc4 Bc7), and 7...b48Wc2 0-09me2 and
Three main lines have developed from this now either 9.c5 or 9.e5, continuing the

at
position. The oldest and most straightforward tack.

one is 4g5, then there is the flexible 4 Df3 A sharper reply is 7 cxd5 Axds (with the
and finally we have 4 exd5, the Exchange black queen on a5, 7...exd5 would produce an
Variation. inferior version of the Exchange Variation) 8
W2. White is prepared to sacrifice the pawn

3...Df6 4 &g5 that will be lost after 8...Qb4 9 Ecl 7b6 (fol

lowed by 10..Da4) in order to take over the

4 Rg5 initiative. This approach is perhaps the most
Many different variations have evolved from feared nowadays although its consequences are

this position, especially in the first decades of far from clear. Black also has 8..D7b6, imme
the 20th century, when the Queen's Gambit De diately bringing the second knight into the as

clined reigned supreme in the world of chess sault on c3, when White alsotends to sacrifice a
openings. Most of these lines have now been pawn, by 9Âd3 xc3 10 bxc3d5 11 0-0.

practically forgotten. In practice many players avoid the Cam

Black has, for instance, the possibility 4...c5 bridge Springs by transposing to the Exchange
5 cxd5 cxd4, called the Dutch Gambit (or the Variation with cxds on move 5 or 6.
Dutch-Peruvian Gambit, due to the Peruvian All other variations at Black's disposal start

Canal's alternative idea 5...Wb6). This with..

player
was still moderately popularas late as the 1950s, 4 Ae7
but has now been reduced to a footnote. Just like 3.0f6, this is a solid and natural

Then there is the older still Cambridge move. Black is not in a hurry to try to take over
Springs Variation, which is less risky and the initiative, and simply develops his pieces

fairly popular to this day. It can be reached ei instead.

ther by playing 4...2bd7 5 e3 c66 Wasf3 5 e3 0-0

(D)or by 4..c6 5 e3 Dbd76r3 Was. BIack 6 Dr3 (D)

unpins his king's and prepares the aggres
knight This is the starting point for all variations
sive moves .kb4
and ..e4, both of which which are based on 4...Re7. In the course of
should not be underestimated. well over a century the following can be said
White's most cautious reply is 70d2,where to have evolved as the main lines: 6...bd7.

upon Black has two options: 7...dxc4 more or 6..h67 Âh4De4.6...h6 7âh4 b6 and 6..h6

less forces the exchange 8 xf6 xf after 7 xf6.

16 FUNDAMENTAL CHESS OPENINGS

Both these variations are old and respectable

and still quite fashionabie, but the real main
B lineof the Queen's Gambit Declined isnow
6..h6 7Ah4 b6 (D),the Tartakower Varia
tion.

The oldest of these is 6.Dbd7. After White's

most common reply 7 cl Black may choose

7...c6 8 d3 dxc4 9 xc4 Dd5, theCapa
blancaVariation. Here we touch upon some of
the bedrock theory of the Queen's Gambit De

clined. It has remained virtually unchanged

since the 1920syet it is still alive and very in This gives rise to much more complex posi
teresting.The point is that after the plausible 10 tions than both the Capablanca and the Lasker

Axe7 Wxe7 1 0-0xe3 12 Exc3 Black contin Variation have to offer while retaining about
ues 12...e5, when he has reached a very accept the same degreeof reliability,a very fortunate
able position without any weaknesses.White combination of characteristics which makes
has tried just abouteverything to hold on to at the Tartakower very attractive indeed. In fact
leasta minimum
num of
of initiative. One option is the there is hardly a world-class player nowadays
forcing 13 dxes Dxe5 14 Dxes Wxes I5 f4, who has never played it.

which has been worked out very deeply. The White has tried a great number of ideas to

ory's present favourite, however,seems to be gain at least a minimal opening advantage, of

13 We2 exd4 14 exd4,. ten extremely subtie and sometimes involving a
Very closely related to the Capablanca Varia clever move-orderto execute a standard plan in

tion is 6...h6 7A.h4e4. the Lasker Variation. new form.

i
Here too Black aims at a fairly uncomplicated Basically White has three different plans at

middlegame by exchanging some minor pieces. his disposal. The first is to leave Black in peace
In somecasessthe similarities Canablanca's and to concentrate instead on developing as ac
8Rxe7
idea are astonishing: for instance, after tivelyas possible. This attitude may result in a
Wxe79 Bcl c6 10kd3 Oxc3 11 xc3dxc4 12 variation like 8&d3 Ab7 90-0 Dbd7 10We2

&xc4 Dd7 13 0-0 e5 the only difference from c5 11Efd1. The tension in the centre may be re
the line givenaboveis that Black's pawn is on h6 solved at any moment,but how? This strategy

instead of h7. A good alternative plan is 13..b6. is intrinsically sound but it does require some

Perhaps the most principled approachis to play accuracy and good positional skills in order to

9 cxd5 (instead of 9 cl), forcing the exchange be really effective.

on c3. After 9.Oxc3 10bxe3 exd5 White has a The second plan is to do precisely the oppo
very sound strategy in 11 b3 followed by c4 site: White fixes the central pawn-formation im
gaining a nice central pawn-majority. Black's mediately by playing 8 cxd5.This was the main

reasons for allowing this are the open ines, line of the Tartakower until about 1970, but

which allow him an easy and active develop- when it became increasingly clear that 8..xds
ment of his pieces. 9Âxe7We7 10xd5 exdS isentirely playable
 In some cases the similarities with Capablanca's and to concentrate instead on developing as ac
idea are astonishing: or instance. after 8xe7 tively as possible. This attitude may result in a
Wxe79 clcó 10 &d3 xc3
11Exc3 dxc4 12 variation like 8&d3
Ab7 0-0 10 9 bd7 e2
Rxc4 Dd7
0-0 e5 the only difference from
13 c5 11 Zfdi.The tension in the centre may be re
the line given above is that Black's pawn is on h6 solved any moment, but how? This strategy
at
instead ofh7.A good alternative plan is 13...b6. is intrinsically sound but it does require some

Perhaps the most principled approachis to play accuracy and good positional skills in order to
9 cxd5 (i
9
2cl), forcing the exchange be really effective.
5 (instcad of
on c3. After 9..Oxc3 10 bxe3 exd5 White has a The second plan is to do precisely the oppo
very sound strategy in l1 b3 followed by c4 site:White fixes the central pawT-formation im
gaining a nice central pawn-majority. Black's mediately by playing 8cxd5. This was the main

reasons for allowing this are the open lines, line of the Tartakower until about 1970, but

which allow him an easy and active develop when it became increasingly clear that 8..2xds
ment of his pieces. 9Âxe7xe7 10xd5exd5 is entirely playable

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 17

for Black, mainly because of the discovery that

after 11 clsomewhat surprising 11.e6

the

is much stronger than 11...b7, its popularity

dwindled. 11..ke6 leaves Black free to use the
open b-file after 12 e2 c5 13 dxcS bxc5 l4

0-07efor his rooks. Chances are considered

equal here.
The third plan (and the most popular one
nowadays), is actually a refinement of the sec
ond.White waits for 8..2b7 to be played (this
can
tus
be done in numerous ways, ,the
the most com
mon ones being 8 &d3, 8 e2,8 cl and 8
b3), he bishop for knight on
then exchanges

f6and only then does he take on d5. In this type

of middlegame it is much more difficult for After 8 Ecl, an enormously popular move
Black to free his position by means of ...c5 and around 1985,8..c6 9 d7 100-0 dxc4 11d3

if he does not achieve this pawn-breakhe runs Rxc4 eS is the main line.

the risk of ending up in a slightly passive, if still On 8We2,intended to make castling queen

fairly solid position. Naturally by giving up the side possible, Black turns out to be able to play

bishop-pair White does take a certain amount the much longed-for 8..c5anyway,mainly be
of long-term positional risk, so this strategy. cause of the fearless pawn sacrifice 9 dxc5
popular though is, does require a steady hand. Dc6!.
it
The reader may have noticed that both the Subtly diferent from this, 8Wd2. also wih a

Lasker and the Tartakower Variation are given view to castling queenside, is met by 8..dxc49
here as starting with 6...h6. This is played sim Rxc4 Dd7 with 10.c5 to follow.

ply because in many of the resulting positions Perhaps White's most forceful move (though
.h6 turns out to be a useful move for Black. not necessarily the strongest!) is 8Wb3,attack
Inevitably the attempt to 'punish' Black for ing Black's pawn on d5. In that case Black will

this insertion by not retreating the bishop and have to look for a specific way to take advan
going for 7xf6 instead has also been investi tage of the exposed position of the white queen:
d
gated. Very similar to the above-mentioned 8...c6 9 Edi Dd7 10 d3 and now 10.b6,
third plan against the Tartakower, White gives 10..a5 and 10.Eb8 (intending 11...b5) have
up the bishop-pair in order to make it more dif all been played.
ficult for Black to get ..c5 in. At the same time

a..bó set-up (forinstance 7..@xf6 8Kcl bó)is 3.Df6 4 af3

discouraged because White will then normally
be just a tempo ahead of a regular Tartakower.
4 Dr3 (D)
This means that Black will have to think of This position very often occurs
via d4f6 l

other methods of tackling the opening prob 2c4 e6 ("A Nimzo-Indian - 3De3 b4 -per
lems. Four main lines have been developed, all haps?") 3 ar3 (No thank you, but I wouldn'
based on White's choice of move after 7...Âxf6 mind a Queen's Indian - 3...b6 - or a Bogo
(D 3.Ab4+")3..45 (Well, now that you have
These lines are very subtle and need a good put your knight on f3I think I prefer a Queen's

deal of positional understanding, but basically Gambit Declined.") 4 De3.

they all it into the simple schedule: White Because 4Df3 applies less direct pressure on
chooses a move to make ..c5 as unattractive as Black's central position than 4g5,Black now
possible, then Black reacts in such a way as to has a very large choice. The main lines are

demonstrate that White has made the wrong 4.e7,4.Qbd7.4..c5, 4..b4 and 4..dxc4.
choice, 4..c6 is also important but this is one of several
 QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 21

xd4xd4 |l cxd4 brings about an endgame without hischanceseven here, these two moves

with chances for both sides. White has some have become quite fashionable e oflate.
pressure against b7, but Black's pawn-majority 6...h6 forces White to make a decision.

on the queenside may eventually turn into a Should he take on f6 or is 7Lh4 the stronger
dangerous passed pawn. move? The latter invites the sharp response
7..g58g3De4, threatening 9..Dxc3 as well
3..Df6 4 Df3 &b4 as 9...h5. White must deal firmly with this. The
pawn sacrifice 92d2!Oxc310 bxc3 &xc3 11
4 b4 Rcl offers good attacking prospects (especially
This isthe Ragozin Variation, a near rela- because 11..9xd4? fails to 12 Wa4+ Dc6 13

tive of the Nimzo-Indian (which is only one Exc6),but exactly how good remains unclear.
move away: 5 e3). Black aims for counterplay What is clear is that in practice most players
4 or dxe4. That is why White's
..De4
by ...c5, .. or ...d prefer 7 Âxf6, leading to a much more sedate
best reply is thought to be... middlegame.The main line goes 7...Wxf6 8
Cxd5 exd5 Wa4+Oc69 e3 0-0 10 Re2 e6 110-0.In com
6 Rg5 (D) parison with the Exchange Variation, Black's

pieces are rather scattered all over the board so

it may look as if White's opening play hasbeen
successful, yet a Ragozinexpert usually man

ages to recoordinate them fairly quickly.

3...2f6 4 Df3 dxc4

4 dxc4
This is one of the youngest variations of the
Queen's Gambit Declincd. It was hardly ever
played before the 1990s. Black immediately
forces his opponent to make
fundamentalde a
cision. He can win back the pawn very casily

with 5e3 or 5Wa4+ but both these moves trans

pose to another opening where White has then

Now there are two main lines for Black, 'missed' a number of options. e3 c5 6 Âxc4 5
6...Dbd7and 6...h6. a is a Queen's Gambit Accepted and 5Wa4+
Against 6...Dbd7,7e3 c5 8 hd3 constitutes c6 6 xc4 b5 is a variation of the Semi-Slav.

White's most natural development.Black then Though ncither of these lines is bad for White,
lashes out on the queenside with 8..Was 9 We2 he may not like the choice of variation that has
c4. This leads, after 10&fs 0-0 110-0Re8, to a been forced on him.
difficult position.White's ideal plan would be to The more principled continuation is:

play e4, preferably after Dd2 and f3, but prac 5 e4

tice has shown that this is hard to achieve against 6 Rg5 c5(D)
an opponent who knows what he is doing, StilL, This is called the Vienna Variation, a line

this is White's most principled approach. enjoyed a certain popularity in the 1930s,
that

Very often. however, White avoids this type wascompletely forgoten for halfacentury but
of middlegamealtogether by playing 7Hc or 7 came back with a vengeance in 1987, when it
l
c2. White plans to radically stop ...c5-c4by was rejuvenated and analysed very deeply. It is

taking on c5 should Black play ..c5. For in provocative way to handle the opening be
stance, after 7 Wc2 c5 8 dxc5 Was 9 the d2! cause at first sight White appears to have a great
game assumesa totally different character from number of very attractive possibilities. Black's
the 7 e3 line. Though Black is certainly not position turns out to be remarkably resilient,
 PICSsurc OSTuOn sCs

after 8a3Dc69 Wc2 a5(D).

5 0-0 Black's last move threatens ...De4 and forces

6 e3 White to react.

Now the 'normal'moves 6...Obd7, 6.cóand The oldest line in this position goes 10 Zdi
6..b6 have never really caught on. Most of the de7 11 d2 allowing but also forcing Black
resulting middlegane positions are regarded as (in view of the threat of 12b3) to lash out in

QUEEN'S GAMBIT DECLINED 19

flexible option which can be played with several

ideas in mind.
To begin with, it may be used as an anti-5

&f4 weapon since on 5f4Black now has the

excellent reply 5..dxc4.The white bishop finds

itself somewhat awkwardly placed after both 6
c4 Abf and 6e3Dd5,so this is usually avoided.

Against 5Âg5 Black has a choice between

transposing to the 4 g5 main lines by playing

5...2e7 or 5...h6 6h4 ke7 (althoughhe has

of course commited himself to a.Qbd7 line).
the Ragozin Variation 5..b4 (sce page 21)
by
or the Cambridge Springs by 5.c6 6 e3 as
(see page 15).
the centre with l1...e5 12 g5d4. This varia The critical test for 4..Dbd7 is 5cxd5 exdS
tion was thoroughly examined and considered 6f4.Again, as in the variation 3...e7 (sce
acceptable for both sides. page 14), because there is a drawback to the
Then, in 1988, 10 0-0-0 was introduced and natural reply ...d6 (in this case of course

this became extremely popular almost over 6.2d67Rxd6 cxd6 would beawkward) White
night. After 10...e7 both the ferocious at is hoping to achievea favourable version of the

tacking moves g4 and 11 h4 and the more

11 Exchange Variation.

subtle 11 Dd2 and11 #bl all turned out to be The whole of the 4..Dbd7 line, although it

very dangerous for Black. It took a few years, has been known for quite some time, has some
but by now Black has managed to work out how managed to stay clear of the theoretical
good defensive lines against all four of these This makes it an interesting choice
steamrollers.

moves and the Queen's Gambit Declined is for those who know their way about in the

back from the Intensive Care Unit, but it was Queen's Gambit and can hope to lure their op
mighty close! ponents into unknown territory.

3...216 4 f3 bd7 3...2f6 4 Df3 c5

9bd7 (D) 4
This is caled the Semi-Tarrasch Variation,
and it indeed bearsa close superficial relation

ship with the line 3..c5. However, the name is

at odds with the fact that Tarrasch was attracted

to his opening. the Tarrasch Defence, by the

point that Black is going to play ...exd5 if White
ever takes on d5, while in the variation that we

are discussing here. Black's aim is to avoid an

isolated that
u Pawn. Hardly a strategy
s
Tarrasch have a alone
approved of, let
given his name to! But of course chess opening
nomenclature is not always logical and this is

really a nice illustration of the fact.

However, the strategic idea behind the move
4.c5isperfectly logical and that is what counts.

This move has not yet established itself sufti Black attacks the white central formation in a
ciently to get a name, but it is a sound and very straightforward way.