Tree path 9 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Queen's Gambit › Queen's Gambit Accepted › Normal Variation › Queen's Gambit Accepted › Normal Variation › Traditional System › Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense › Normal Line
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Normal Line
Overview
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Normal Line is a sacrificial opening line filed under ECO D26 in the Closed & Semi-Closed Games group. The defining idea is the early concession of material to seize the initiative and unbalance the position.
The Closed & Semi-Closed Games group covers closed and semi-closed games — 1.d4 systems characterised by long strategic manoeuvring rather than early tactics.
The line arises from 11 plies — specifically the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, part of the broader Queen's Pawn Game system.
3 named variations grow from this line, including Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Main Line, Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Development Variation, Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Exchange Variation.
Together the deeper variations number 10 across the full subtree.
Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.
- ECO code
- D26
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 11
- Direct variations
- 3
- Total in subtree
- 10
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. A more detailed, human-written description is on the way — and you can speed it up by suggesting one yourself.
Statistics from Lichess
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| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
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Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached
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Variations (3)
Show all 10 sub-variations (full subtree)
- D27 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Main Line 12-ply
- D26 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Development Variation 12-ply
- D26 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Exchange Variation 12-ply
- D28 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Alekhine System 13-ply
- D27 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Rubinstein Variation 13-ply
- D27 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Furman Variation 14-ply
- D28 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Alekhine System 14-ply
- D29 Main Line 16-ply
- D28 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical, Flohr Variation 26-ply
- D29 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Alekhine System, Smyslov Variation 20-ply