QGA: 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3

Before the first move

The Queen's Gambit Accepted with 4.g3 is a refined, positional approach. Instead of rushing to recapture the c4-pawn with e3, White prepares a powerful kingside fianchetto. This creates long-term pressure on the center and queenside, forcing Black to decide how to defend their extra pawn or when to return it for development.

1. d4White · your move

Push your pawn to d4. This move claims central space, controls the e5-square, and opens paths for your queen and dark-squared bishop. It is the foundation for many of the most solid and strategic openings in chess.

1... d5Black

Black replies d5, the most solid and classical response. This setup ensures Black a fair share of the center. Other options like the English Defense with b6 or the sharp Englund Gambit with e5 lead to very different, often more chaotic, types of games.

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

2. c4White · your move

Push your pawn to c4 to offer the Queen's Gambit. You are attacking the d5-pawn and offering a trade to deflect Black's pawn away from the center, which would allow you more control over the e4-square later.

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

Black plays dxc4, accepting the gambit. This is a brave and theoretically sound choice. While the Chigorin Defense with Nc6 or the Baltic Defense with Bf5 are interesting alternatives, taking the pawn forces White to prove they have enough compensation for the material.

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 · your move

Develop your knight to f3. This is a flexible move that controls the e5 and d4 squares. More importantly, it prevents Black from immediately playing e5 to strike back at your center, which is a common theme in the gambit accepted.

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)

3... Nf6Black

Black replies Nf6, continuing natural development. This is the main line, though Black has several alternatives like the Slav Gambit with b5 or the Rosenthal Variation with e6. By developing the knight, Black maintains a flexible setup against White's next moves.

Other paths here: Bg4 (QGA: 3.Nf3 Bg4) · Nd7 (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Godes Variation) · c5 (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Gunsberg Defense) · e6 (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Rosenthal Variation)

4. g3White · your move

Slide your pawn to g3. This prepares to fianchetto your bishop to g2. From that long diagonal, the bishop will exert tremendous pressure on the center and the d5-square, making it very difficult for Black to hold onto the extra c4-pawn.

Other paths here: Qa4+ (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Mannheim Variation) · Nc3 (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Showalter Variation) · e3 (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation)

Where you stand

The position is strategically rich. White will place the bishop on g2 and eventually look to regain the c4-pawn, often via Qa4+ or e3. Black should focus on completing development, likely with e6 and Be7, while deciding whether to try and hold the c4-pawn or trade it back for a clean, equalized position in the center.

• f1-g2 Fianchetto the bishop to pressure the long diagonal
• e1-g1 Castle kingside to secure the king
• c7-c5 Strike at the center to challenge d4
• b8-c6 Develop the knight to increase central control