Tree path 7 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Queen's Gambit › Queen's Gambit Declined › Queen's Knight Variation › Queen's Gambit Declined: Normal Defense › Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation › Queen's Gambit Declined
Queen's Gambit Declined
Overview
Queen's Gambit Declined is a gambit, classified under ECO code D53 within the Closed & Semi-Closed Games family. As with all gambits, one side sacrifices material early — usually a pawn — in exchange for development, open lines, or initiative.
The Closed & Semi-Closed Games group covers closed and semi-closed games — 1.d4 systems characterised by long strategic manoeuvring rather than early tactics.
It begins with 8 plies and takes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 to reach the canonical position.
It is a variation of Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, which itself descends from the root opening Queen's Pawn Game.
It branches into 5 notable variations — Queen's Gambit Declined, Lasker Defense, Bernstein Variation, Mar del Plata Gambit, Lasker Defense, Russian Variation, and others.
Together the deeper variations number 11 across the full subtree.
Step through the moves on the interactive board below, review the live Lichess statistics, or play this position against Stockfish at one of six difficulty levels.
- ECO code
- D53
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 8
- Direct variations
- 5
- Total in subtree
- 11
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
Loading…
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached
Description
Write a description
Markdown supported (headings ###, bold, lists, links).
Submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Variations (5)
Show all 11 sub-variations (full subtree)
- D53 Queen's Gambit Declined 9-ply
- D57 Lasker Defense, Bernstein Variation, Mar del Plata Gambit 24-ply
- D56 Lasker Defense, Russian Variation 26-ply
- D53 Modern Variation, Heral Variation 9-ply
- D66 Orthodox Defense, Bd3 Line 15-ply
- D67 Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Capablanca System 18-ply
- D67 Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Bd3 Line 20-ply
- D67 Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Alekhine Variation 21-ply
- D67 Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Main Line 21-ply
- D68 Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Classical Variation 24-ply
- D69 Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Classical Variation 28-ply