Tree path 4 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Queen's Gambit › Queen's Gambit Declined › Queen's Knight Variation
D31

Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Variation

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Overview

Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Variation is a sacrificial opening line filed under ECO D31 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.

It begins with 5 plies and takes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 to reach the canonical position.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from Queen's Gambit Declined, part of the broader Queen's Pawn Game system.

5 named variations grow from this line, including Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation, Queen's Gambit Declined: Janowski Variation, Queen's Gambit Declined: Normal Defense, and others.

Counted recursively, this branch covers 89 sub-variations at all depths.

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
D31
Group
Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
Plies
5
Parent
Queen's Gambit Declined
Direct variations
5
Total in subtree
89

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.

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Variations (5)

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