Queen's Gambit Accepted

Queen's Gambit Accepted is a chess opening with the ECO code D23. It goes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6. White opens with 1. d4 (the queen's pawn) and Black answers 1... d5. After 6 moves it is White to move. After the last move Black is a pawn ahead in material. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
• 1... d5 – Black plays the pawn to d5
• 2. c4 – White plays the pawn to c4
• 2... dxc4 – Black captures on c4 with the d-pawn
• 3. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
• 3... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 4. e3.

About the Queen's Gambit Accepted

After 1.d4 d5 2.c4, Black takes with 2...dxc4. Black does not try to keep the pawn but uses the time to develop and hit the centre.

• White usually wins the pawn back with e3 and Bxc4.
• Black strikes back with ...c5 and ...e6, often getting an isolated d-pawn fight.
• Holding the pawn with ...b5 is usually a mistake: a4 breaks the chain.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the Queen's Gambit Accepted course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation (1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3)
• Continues with: Queen's Gambit Accepted: Mannheim Variation – adds 4. Qa4+
• Continues with: Queen's Gambit Accepted: Showalter Variation – adds 4. Nc3
• Continues with: Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation – adds 4. e3
• Related line: Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense, Haberditz Variation (1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3 b5)
• Related line: Queen's Gambit Accepted: Mannheim Variation (1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qa4+)
• Related line: Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense, Alatortsev Variation (1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Bxc4 e6 6. d5)
• Related line: Queen's Gambit Accepted: Mannheim Variation (1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qa4+ c6 5. Qxc4)
• Related line: Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense (1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6)
• Related line: Queen's Gambit Accepted: Mannheim Variation (1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qa4+ c6 5. Qxc4 e6 6. Qc2)

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