Holding on to the c4 pawn
...b5 to keep the extra pawn weakens the queenside and lets White open lines with a4. Return it and develop.
Opening guide · Black against 1.d4
How to meet the Queen’s Gambit with Black
1.d4 d5 2.c4
After 1.d4 d5 2.c4, Black can hold the centre with ...e6 or take the pawn with ...dxc4 and return it for free development. This guide shows both, as the courses play them.
- Lines to play
- 2
- Trap
- 1
- Quiz positions
- 6
Learn the Queen’s Gambit move by move
You play Black. Each move is explained before you play it, with an arrow on the board; then you play the line from memory. When the course has more than one good move, every one of them counts.
Key ideas
It is not a real gambit
- If Black takes on c4, White usually wins the pawn back. Black uses the time to develop and strike with ...c5 or ...e5.
Declined: hold d5
- ...e6 and ...Nf6 keep a pawn on d5. Against the Exchange, ...Bb4 pins the c3 knight and keeps Black active.
Accepted: hit the centre
- After ...dxc4, Black plays ...Nf6, ...e6 and ...c5, or ...e5 against an early e4.
Free the c8 bishop
- In the Declined the bishop is behind e6. The Exchange opens its diagonal; in other lines ...b6 or ...dxc4 and ...b5 help.
The main lines
Declined, Exchange: 5...Bb4
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Bb4 6.e3 h6
Against cxd5 and Bg5, the bishop pins and ...h6 asks the question.
Declined: 6.Qc2
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Bb4 6.Qc2 h6
White defends c3 with the queen; ...h6 still chases the bishop.
Accepted, classical: 3.Nf3
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 Be7 6.O-O O-O
Black gives the pawn back and castles; ...c5 comes next.
Accepted: 3.e4 e5
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bxd2+ 6.Nbxd2 exd4
Black hits the centre at once and trades the dark-squared bishops.
These lines come from the other courses: step through them with the comments.
Black gives the pawn back and castles; ...c5 comes next.
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Step through the line with the arrows.
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A trap to know
Short tactical shots that come out of these moves. More in the chess traps collection.
The Elephant trap
White grabs the d5 pawn, believing the knight on d7 is pinned. It is not.
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Step through the line with the arrows.
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Find the move
6 positions from the main lines, each with its idea. Your first try counts.
Position 1 of 6
1.d4 d5 2.c4
The ideaHold d5, or take the pawn and develop.
Find a move for Black. More than one is right.
Common mistakes
Taking on d5 twice
In the Declined, letting White win d5 by piling up on it costs the centre. Keep enough defenders.
Leaving the c8 bishop behind
Plan its development before the middlegame; a passive bishop is the usual price of a lazy Declined.
Related openings
Frequently asked questions
How do I learn the Queen’s Gambit?
Play it, one move at a time. The trainer on this page explains each Black move before you play it, then asks you to play the line from memory. Read the main lines and traps, test yourself in the quiz, then play it in your games. The Queen's Gambit Declined Diplomat teaches every line, with spaced review so the moves stay with you.
Should Black accept the Queen’s Gambit?
Both are sound. Accepting leads to open play where Black returns the pawn; declining keeps a solid centre. Pick the structure you enjoy.
Is the Queen’s Gambit a real gambit?
Not really. After 2...dxc4 White can regain the pawn with e3 and Bxc4, and Black cannot hold it safely.
What is the Elephant trap?
A trap in the Queen’s Gambit Declined: after 4.Bg5 Nbd7, the greedy 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Nxd5?? loses a piece to 6...Nxd5 7.Bxd8 Bb4+.
Learn every line of the Queen’s Gambit
The Queen's Gambit Declined Diplomat teaches it as a repertoire: 60 lines, a note on every move read aloud, and spaced review so the moves stay with you. The first line is free.
Also covered in The Queen's Gambit Accepted Collector.
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