The Queen’s Gambit A Great All Round Option For White

If you had to choose one chess opening to play with White for the rest of your life, the Queen’s Gambit would make a savvy choice. Rock solid yet dynamic, the opening boasts one of the highest win rates at all levels.

To make the most of this centuries-old stalwart, however, you need to know how to play against Black’s myriad responses. In this whistle-stop tour, we’ll help you to conquer the most frequent Queen’s Gambit Variations. 

Also, keep your eyes peeled for our tips and tricks that are statistically proven to work wonders against club level players!

History

Did you know the Queen’s Gambit is one of the oldest openings in chess? First mentioned in 1490, it has fallen in and out of favor since its inception. The 1920s and 1930s saw the Queen’s Gambit peak in popularity at master level, and it remains one of the most successful openings for White at all levels today.

After the Second World War, many playing with the Black pieces began avoiding the Queen’s Gambit entirely by refusing to play a symmetrical opening. Indeed, the Indian Defense: 1.d4 Nf6 scores better for Black at all levels.

Luckily, the Indian Defense remains seldom played at amateur level. As White, you can still wield the mighty Queen’s Gambit in the majority of games.

The Queen’s Gambit in a Nutshell

The Queen's Gambit starts with the moves: 1.d4 d5 2.c4. Here are some defining features of the opening:

Bid for the Center

A fundamental chess opening principle is to win control of the center. By playing 2.c4, White challenges Black’s central pawn. If Black takes (dxc4), White can play e2-e4 and claim complete dominance of the center. The sacrificial pawn will soon be won back too!

A Pseudo Gambit

Despite its name, the Queen’s Gambit isn’t much of a gambit at all. Although Black can immediately win what appears to be a free pawn, its pawn on c4 becomes impossible to defend without incurring positional weakness. Ultimately, Black swiftly loses its material advantage or worse.

Statistically Strong

The Queen’s Gambit has one of the best track records of any opening for White at all levels. The open source chess database lichess.org reveals that at club level, the Queen’s Gambit scores 55 points per 100 games played. Even more convincing at Master Level, White scores a whopping 57.5 points per 100 games played!

Can Lead to Passive Play

One criticism of the Queen’s Gambit is that it can be used to play a rather dull, positional game. In contrast to King’s Pawn Openings (1.e4), Queen’s Pawn Openings (1.d4) are known for leading to a more closed game.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though! In the following guide, we’ll be sharing some aggressive lines to spice things up for White too.

The Queen’s Gambit Main Variations

Beating the Queen’s Gambit Accepted (2...dxc4)

Despite having a pitiful track record, the Queen’s Gambit Accepted (2...dxc4) is still played in 25% of amateur games. By accepting White’s false sacrifice, Black cedes full control of the center to White - and usually struggles to win it back.

The wonderful thing about playing against the Queen’s Gambit Accepted (QGA) is that almost any ordinary development moves will put you ahead. All of White’s most popular next moves: 1) Nc3 2)e3 3)e4, and 4)Nf3 score White between 57-59 points per 100 games played – a very convincing average on the third move!

No matter which sequence White chooses to play, the main goals are to establish central dominance, quick development, castling on the kingside, and recapturing the lost pawn. By contrast, Black usually struggles to compete for the center and can easily end up in an ineffectual position. For example: 1.d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nc6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bg4 6. Be3

By placing its rooks in the C, D, and E-files, White consolidates its positional lead. Now, trying to open up the center becomes even more dangerous for Black because of the X-ray attacks upon its back ranks. White retains the option to attack with pawns on the 5th rank, leaving Black with few squares to move to.

A Cunning Trap! Why 3...b4 is a Blunder

After accepting the Queen’s Gambit, White often answers by immediately advancing its king’s pawn one square (3.e6) for its light squared bishop to recapture on c4. Some inexperienced players may attempt to maintain their pawn advantage with 3...b4, but this is a mistake!

In reply, White plays 4.a4 to undermine the defending pawn. Black can’t defend with its a-pawn, since opening up the a-file would lose a rook. Instead, 4...c6 looks like a more sensible move. 

After pawns are exchanged on b5, White plays 5.Qf3 – a harmless-looking attack on Black’s rook. To Black’s horror, however, it can’t defend the rook without losing a piece! At the very least, White will come out a bishop or a knight better off.

Beating the Queen’s Gambit Declined Orthodox Variation (2...e6)

Instead of capturing the ‘free’ pawn, Black may opt to protect its queen pawn that’s being threatened. The most classical and popular way to do this is 2...e6 – the Queen’s Gambit Declined Orthodox Variation (QGD Orthodox).

The Orthodox Variation is a solid response that scores well for Black. So, how can you best defy it? Begin by following the book moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6. The main line now is to immediately play 4.Bg5 and pin Black’s knight, but there is another move sequence that often pays off better.

Instead, bide your time with 4.Nf3. Black now has more flexibility, and will often use it to play 4...Bb4. Now, playing Bg5 yields greater clout. Black has already moved its dark squared bishop, so is loath to retreat it back to e7. From here, you can quickly release your pinned knight by castling, whereas for Black, the task is far more awkward.

Another useful strategy against the Queen’s Gambit Declined is to play Queen c2 early on. Let’s explore that idea further vs the Slav Defense.

Beating the Slav Defense (2...c6) With Queen c2

Black’s second most popular way to defend d5 is by playing 2...c6 – the Slav Defense. An advantage of the Slav is that, unlike 2...e6, it doesn’t immediately block in the light-squared bishop. In other ways, it shares many similarities with the Orthodox QGD. A hybrid variation, where Black posts defending pawns on both c6 and e6 is known as the ‘Semi-Slav’.

Let’s begin with the same way we answered 2...e6 by developing both knights: 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3. Regardless of what Black might play, a strong, offbeat move is 5.Qc2. Here, the queen sits safely while pointing dangerously toward h7. A particularly aggressive line to follow now is 6.e4, threatening 7.e5.

To prevent White pushing the pawn, Black must capture – normally via 6...dxe4. After exchanging (6...dxe4 7.Nxe4) White’s knight stands assertive in the center. From here, whether or not Black trades knights, White can set up a worrisome cannon towards h7 with Bd3.

Here’s how the board looks after: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Qc2 Be7 6. e4 dxe4 7.Nxe4

Black now has to think twice about its intended plan to castle kingside. White is left with full control of the center with some attacking options to boot. These attacking ideas can also apply to the Orthodox Variation and are especially effective in blitz and bullet games.

Beating the Albin Countergambit

There is one answer to the Queen’s Gambit that scores better than the rest. By playing 2...e5, Black launches the Albin Countergambit – a super aggressive counterattack with some extremely dangerous lines. Luckily, it’s all quite harmless if White knows what to do.

Firstly, it’s perfectly safe to accept the free pawn that Black offers (3.dxe5). Black will now provocatively push its king's pawn to e5 where it becomes difficult to dislodge. As White, the main thing to remember is: Stay calm and don’t play e3. Doing so can swiftly lead to the ‘Lasker Trap’ where you’ll lose a queen!

Instead, pressure the pawn with Nf3, and fianchetto your light-squared bishop. From here, your light-squared bishop and kingside knight have great chances to unleash havoc on Black’s queenside. In many lines, you can even coax Black into castling queenside by playing Qb3.

Conclusion

The Queen’s Gambit is one of the strongest openings White can play at any level. Whether Black accepts the Greek bearing gift or refuses, you’ll have some sharp lines to land you a superior position from the get-go.

It’s important to note, however, that the Queen’s Gambit is a deep and complex opening! If you’re serious about playing it regularly, we’d thoroughly recommend studying an in-depth guide like this one.