Queen's Gambit Accepted

Before the first move

The Queen's Gambit Accepted is a bold response where Black captures the c4 pawn to disrupt White's center. Unlike many gambits, Black usually doesn't try to keep the extra pawn, but instead uses the temporary space to develop quickly and strike back at White's central control later.

1. d4White

White starts with d4, the most common alternative to e4. This move typically leads to more strategic, closed games compared to king's pawn openings. You have many ways to respond, but meeting d4 with d5 is the most solid and classical way to maintain balance in the center.

1... d5Black · your move

Move your pawn to d5. By matching White's central advance, you prevent them from easily pushing e4 and establish your own foothold in the middle of the board. This solid response is the foundation for many reliable defensive systems including the Queen's Gambit Declined.

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 offering a pawn to lure yours away from the center. You must now decide whether to decline with e6 or c6, or accept the challenge by capturing on c4, which leads to more open and tactical play.

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. Your goal is not to cling to this pawn forever, but to use the open lines to develop your pieces rapidly and challenge White's center.

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, a prophylactic move designed to stop you from playing e5. White could have also tried e3 to immediately attack your c4 pawn or e4 to seize the full center, but the knight move is the most popular way to keep the game under control and prevent early counterattacks.

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 · your move

Develop your knight to f6. This move mirrors White's development, controls the e4 square, and prepares you for kingside castling. You are keeping your options open while ensuring that White cannot simply roll over the center with their pawns without a fight.

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)

Where you stand

The position is balanced and rich with possibilities. White will usually try to recover the c4 pawn with e3 and Bxc4, while Black will look to challenge the center with moves like c5 or a6 and b5. Both sides must balance their development with the fight for central space as the game transitions into the middle stage.

• f1-c4 Recapture the pawn and develop the bishop
• a7-b5 Expand on the queenside and challenge c4
• e1-g1 Secure the king and connect the rooks
• c7-c5 Strike at the white center pawn