ECO D20 · Best studied as Black
Queen's Gambit Accepted
- Central
- Counter
- Gambit
What is the Queen's Gambit Accepted?
The Queen's Gambit Accepted is a bold choice where Black immediately takes the offered material. Instead of defending the center stubbornly, you allow White to occupy it with pawns in exchange for free piece activity and a chance to strike back at White's structure later.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4
The lesson
Play through the Queen's Gambit Accepted, move by move
Scroll the moves and watch the board follow along. Every move comes with the idea behind it.
1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4
Before the first move
The Queen's Gambit Accepted is a bold choice where Black immediately takes the offered material. Instead of defending the center stubbornly, you allow White to occupy it with pawns in exchange for free piece activity and a chance to strike back at White's structure later.
1. d4White
White opens with d4, the most common alternative to e4. This move signals a more strategic, closed game, focusing on solid central control and long-term positional pressure rather than immediate tactical skirmishes.
1... d5Black · your move
Respond by moving your pawn to d5. This establishes your own foothold in the center and prevents White from immediately pushing e4 to dominate the entire middle of the board.
Other paths here: Na6 (Australian Defense) · g5 (Borg Defense: Borg Gambit) · b6 (English Defense) · e5 (Englund Gambit)
2. c4White
White plays c4, the signature move of the Queen's Gambit. White is not actually losing a pawn permanently, as they can usually win it back. Other options include the London System with Bf4 or the Chigorin with Nc3.
Other paths here: Qd3 (Amazon Attack) · e4 (Blackmar-Diemer Gambit) · e3 (Queen's Pawn Game) · Bf4 (Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System)
2... dxc4Black · your move
Capture the pawn on c4. By accepting the gambit, you clear the center and prepare to develop your pieces rapidly. Do not try too hard to keep this pawn; focus on counter-attacking White's center instead.
Other paths here: c5 (Queen's Gambit Declined: Austrian Defense) · Bf5 (Queen's Gambit Declined: Baltic Defense) · Nf6 (Queen's Gambit Declined: Marshall Defense) · b5 (Queen's Gambit Declined: Zilbermints Gambit)
Where you stand
White will now try to regain the c4 pawn, usually with e3 or Nf3, while building a strong center. Black should not defend the c4 pawn with b5, which is often a mistake; instead, Black should focus on moves like Nf6 and e6 to prepare a counter-strike against White's center with c5.
- f1-c4 Bishop captures the pawn on c4
- g1-f3 Develop the knight to control d4
- c7-c5 Challenge the center with a pawn break
- g8-f6 Develop the knight to a natural square
Your games
Related Queen's Gambit Accepted lines
- D20Queen's Gambit Accepted: Accelerated Mannheim Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Qa4+
- D20Queen's Gambit Accepted: Old Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3
- D20Queen's Gambit Accepted: Saduleto Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4
- D21Queen's Gambit Accepted: Godes Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nd7
- D21Queen's Gambit Accepted: Gunsberg Defense1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 c5
- D21Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3
- D21Queen's Gambit Accepted: Rosenthal Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6
- D21Queen's Gambit Accepted: Slav Gambit1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 b5
- D22Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6
- D22Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense, Alatortsev Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3 Bg4 5.…
- D23Queen's Gambit Accepted1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6
- D23Queen's Gambit Accepted: Mannheim Variation1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qa4+
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