Queen's Gambit Accepted: Winawer Defense

Before the first move

The Queen's Gambit Accepted is a bold way to challenge White's central control by liquidating the d4-pawn's partner. In the Winawer Defense, Black uses a provocative bishop development to maintain the extra pawn on c4 for as long as possible, forcing White to find creative ways to regain material balance.

1. d4White

White starts with d4, the most common alternative to the King's Pawn opening. This move leads to strategic, closed positions where understanding pawn structures is key. You'll need to decide how to contest the center immediately.

1... d5Black · your move

Move your pawn to d5 to mirror White's control and prevent them from pushing further. By placing your pawn in the center, you ensure an equal share of space and prepare to develop your minor pieces safely.

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 isn't really losing a pawn, but rather inviting you to give up the center. Alternatives like the London System with Bf4 or the Chigorin with Nc3 lead to very different games.

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 to accept the gambit. By taking this pawn, you temporarily go up in material and force White to spend time and effort trying to win it back, often allowing you to develop quickly.

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 flexible developing move that stops you from playing e5. White could have tried the sharp Saduleto Variation with e4 or the Accelerated Mannheim with Qa4+, but this is the most principled and steady approach.

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

Bring your knight to f6 to develop a piece and prepare for kingside castling. This knight exerts pressure on the d5 and e4 squares, making it harder for White to simply push their pawns and take over the center.

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. e3White

White plays e3, a solid move intended to recover the pawn on c4. White sometimes tries g3 to fianchetto the bishop or the Mannheim Variation with Qa4+, but e3 is the classic way to rebuild the center.

Other paths here: g3 (QGA: 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3) · Qa4+ (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Mannheim Variation) · Nc3 (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Showalter Variation)

4... Be6Black · your move

Slide your bishop to e6 to defend the c4-pawn. This is the Winawer Defense; instead of the usual e6 or a6, you use your bishop to physically block White's bishop from recapturing, creating a unique and stubborn defensive structure.

Other paths here: a6 (QGA: 4.e3 a6) · c5 (QGA: 4.e3 c5) · Bg4 (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation) · g6 (Queen's Gambit Accepted: Smyslov Variation)

Where you stand

The position is tense and non-standard. White will likely develop the knight to c3 and look to undermine the c4-pawn, while Black must decide whether to reinforce the bishop with c6 or continue development with Nc6. The battle revolves around whether White can successfully regain the pawn without allowing Black too much activity.

• b1-c3 Develop the knight to pressure d5
• f1-c4 Recapture the pawn if the bishop moves
• b8-c6 Develop the knight to challenge the center
• e8-g8 Castle kingside after moving the dark bishop