The Queen’s Gambit Accepted For White: Step-By-Step
When Black decides to meet 1. d4 with 1. …d5 (the Symmetrical Queen’s Pawn Opening), White’s most ambitious reply is 2. c4: the Queen’s Gambit. If Black chooses to capture the undefended White c-pawn via 2. …dxc4, we enter into the Queen’s Gambit Accepted. This is not Black’s most popular way of playing, but it is certainly one of the most testing - especially if the player with the White pieces is not prepared.
In this article, we explain how to play the Queen’s Gambit Accepted with White, including:
- The general character of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted.
- How to play against Black’s main continuations.
- Where to go to continue your education in this important chess opening.
Introduction To The The Queen’s Gambit Accepted
The Queen’s Gambit Accepted (2. …dxc4) is only Black’s third-most popular choice at master level. It is much more common for Black to instead play either 2. …c6 (the Slav Defense) or 2. …e6 (the Queen’s Gambit Declined).
However, the Queen’s Gambit Accepted actually performs quite strongly for Black, with the lowest percentage of White victories out of all of Black’s main second moves. As a result, White needs to be prepared for it! Note: in the below list we have excluded the likes of the Albin Countergambit (2. …e5), which are rarely played by top players in serious competition.
By capturing 2. …dxc4, Black temporarily gains an extra pawn. However, in practice it is difficult for Black to keep this material advantage without making serious concessions. Provided they play accurately, White should be able to regain the pawn, usually via an eventual Bxc4 after the White e-pawn advances beyond its starting square.
The Queen’s Gambit Accepted allows White to demonstrate why they were willing to offer Black the chance to capture their c-pawn in the first place. By deflecting Black’s pawn away from d5, White is able to immediately play 3. e4. This is the greatest test of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted. It is also our recommendation when playing with the White pieces.
White now has pawns on d4 and e4 controlling many important central squares. How Black chooses to fight against these pawns influences a great deal of the early play in the Queen’s Gambit Accepted.
Black’s Third Move Continuations
Black now has five main moves.
3. …e5: The McDonnell Defense
With 3. …e5, Black does not allow White any time to enjoy their pair of pawns in the center. While it may look as though White could simply capture Black’s e-pawn via 4. dxe5, this would allow Black to initiate a queen trade with 4. …Qxd1+, thus ruining White’s ability to castle once White’s king recaptures 5. Kxd1. This line is not good for White.
Instead, White should either advance their d-pawn via 4. d5, or defend it with the natural developing move 4. Nf3. Both moves have their pros and cons, but 4. Nf3 is our preference.
Now, Black has two main alternatives:
- 4. …Bb4+, a check which White may block with either 5. Bd2, 5. Nc3, or 5. Nbd2, or;
- 4. …exd4, which White should meet with 5. Bxc4. Note that capturing Black’s c4 pawn is better than recapturing on d4. This can be difficult to remember at first if you have not studied the opening theory of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted.
3. …Nf6: The Alekhine System
Bringing out the kingside knight via 3. …Nf6 in a bid to provoke White into advancing e4 -> e5 is reminiscent of Alekhine’s Defense, which explains why this variation of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted is known by the same name.
If both players know the theory, the game should continue 4. …Nd5, 5. Bxc4 Nb6. White has regained the pawn they gambitted earlier, but White’s bishop is attacked by Black’s knight from b6 and should retreat. Both 6. Bb3 and 6. Bd3 are about equally popular.
In general, White can play natural developing moves. Black will try to put pressure on White’s d4 pawn, while White will attempt to keep Black cramped for space using their central space advantage.
Related: Learn from the games of the fourth World Chess Champion with Alexander Alekhine - My Best Games Of Chess 1908 - 1937.
3. …Nc6: The Modern Defense
Black may also choose to develop their queenside knight via 3. …Nc6. White now has several playable continuations, but our favorite begins with 4. Nf3.
Again, Black will typically try to put pressure on White’s d4 pawn. A common continuation for Black starts with 4. …Bg4 (pinning White’s knight, thereby threatening 5. …Nxd4). White can now advance 5. d5, whereupon Black almost always replies with 5. …Ne5, ramping up the pressure against White’s knight on f3.
This position is complicated, and it is well worth memorizing more in this line. One of White’s strongest continuations is to challenge Black’s central knight via 6. Bf4, with White prepared to meet a capture on f3 (for example 6. …Bxf3) with 7. gxf3. Although White’s kingside pawn structure will be damaged, the pawn on f3 reinforces White’s grip over the center. Expect a double-edged fight in the middlegame to come!
3. …c5: The Rubinstein Defense
Another way that Black may challenge White’s command of the center by striking against it with 3. …c5.
Capturing 4. dxc5 is not a good idea for White, as once again it allows Black the opportunity to trade queens via 4. Qxd1+. White’s king must recapture, and White will not be able to castle.
Instead, we recommend meeting 3. …c5 with the central advance 4. d5.
In this case, White’s e4 pawn will become the target. Black often looks to target it with 4. …Nf6, and once White defends via the natural 5. Nc3, Black can create a pin on this knight with an eventual …Qa5.
The game can quickly become very complicated in this variation. Once again, the same advice applies: study the opening theory!
3. …b5: The Greco Variation
The move 3. …b5 can also develop into very sharp positions. The best way for White to meet it is with 4. a4. This challenges the Black pawn on b5, preventing Black from solidifying their extra pawn on c4.
One critical line within the Greco Variation sees Black make an exchange sacrifice in order to gain an early activity advantage.
In the above position with White to move, White can capture 7. Nxb5 due to the pin along the a-file. However, Black is actually expecting this line, because after 7. …axb5, 8. Rxa8, Black intends 8. …Bb7, with a double attack on White’s rook and the important White pawn on e4. White’s rook needs to retreat, whereupon Black has some compensation for the exchange.
According to the computer engine, this line is not good for Black. However, practically it can be very dangerous. White only needs to make a single misstep for the game to end the game in Black’s favor immediately. It pays to study this position further!
How To Learn More About The Queen’s Gambit Accepted
This article has provided a solid foundation for playing the Queen’s Gambit Accepted with the White pieces. However, to be properly prepared to come up against 2. …dxc4 in serious competition, we recommend continuing your education in the Queen’s Gambit Accepted.
For that, we recommend Chris Ward’s classic text Play the Queen’s Gambit, available from the House of Staunton store.
Written by a renowned Queen’s Gambit expert, this book recommends 3. e4 against the Queen’s Gambit Accepted, mirroring what you have learned so far in this post. This book will take you further, teaching a repertoire that puts Black to the test from early in the game.
As a bonus, the other chapters of the book cover all the other lines of the Queen’s Gambit too! It is the perfect all-in-one guide to playing the Queen’s Gambit with White.
Summary: How To Play The Queen’s Gambit Accepted With White
Here is what you need in order to play the Queen’s Gambit Accepted successfully with the White pieces.
- Learn the opening theory. Many of the variations in the Queen’s Gambit Accepted get extremely sharp. It is worthwhile to commit some of the most important lines to memory rather than try to figure them out at the board.
- Expect double-edged positions. By choosing to capture 2. …dxc4, Black immediately unbalances the pawn structure. This naturally leads to more unbalanced play. The game can get tactical quite early.
- Study master games. You will gain a large practical advantage if you go beyond memorizing the opening moves within the Queen’s Gambit Accepted. You should also take careful note of how strong chess players conduct the middlegame.
So roll up your sleeves, study the opening theory, and you will be ready for whatever Black throws at you in the Queen’s Gambit Accepted!