Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation

Before the first move

The Queen's Gambit Accepted is a bold response where Black captures the c4 pawn to disrupt White's central control. While White usually regains the pawn later, Black gains open lines and rapid development opportunities in exchange for conceding the center early on.

1. d4White

White plays d4, establishing a firm foothold in the center. This is the starting point for dozens of complex systems, challenging you to respond immediately for your share of the board's heart.

1... d5Black · your move

Place your pawn on d5. By mirroring White's move, you prevent them from grabbing more space with e4 and prepare to challenge their central structure directly.

Other paths here: Na6 (Australian Defense) · g5 (Borg Defense: Borg Gambit) · b6 (English Defense) · e5 (Englund Gambit)

2. c4White

White plays c4, the signature gambit move. They are offering a pawn to distract your central defender. You could decline with e6 or c6, but today we look at what happens when you accept the challenge.

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 temporarily go a pawn up and force White to spend time recovering it, though you must be careful not to fall behind in development.

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)

3. Nf3White

White plays Nf3, the most common and solid continuation. By developing the knight here, White avoids the immediate central thrust of e5. Other aggressive tries include pushing e4 immediately or the Accelerated Mannheim Variation with Qa4+.

Other paths here: Nc3 (QGA: 3.Nc3) · Qa4+ (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Accelerated Mannheim Variation) · e3 (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Old Variation) · e4 (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Saduleto Variation)

Where you stand

The battle is just beginning. White will likely play e3 to liberate the light-squared bishop and recapture on c4, while Black should focus on developing the kingside with Nf6 and e6. Black must avoid trying too hard to keep the extra pawn, as moves like b5 can lead to dangerous weaknesses in the queenside structure.

• f1-c4 Recapture the pawn and develop the bishop
• e2-e3 Open the diagonal for the light bishop
• g8-f6 Develop the knight and control e4
• a7-a6 Prepare b5 to challenge the white bishop