Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Main Line

Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Main Line is a gambit, classified under ECO code D63 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.

The line arises from 14 plies — specifically the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6.

It is a variation of Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Main Line, which itself descends from the root opening Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation.

It branches into 2 notable variations — Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Classical Variation, Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein Attack.

Together the deeper variations number 3 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.