Queen's Gambit Declined: Tartakower Defense, Makogonov Exchange Variation

Before the first move

The Tartakower Defense is a sophisticated and resilient way to meet the Queen's Gambit. By preparing a kingside castle and a queenside fianchetto, Black creates a flexible structure that balances solid defense with long-term counterattacking potential, especially after the central tension is resolved through trades.

1. d4White

White opens with d4, the most common alternative to e4. This move leads to more strategic, closed games where understanding pawn structures is key. You'll see this in many systems like the London or the Trompowsky.

1... d5Black · your move

Respond by moving your pawn to d5, matching White's central presence and preventing the advance of their e-pawn.

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 here; they are fighting for central leverage. Alternatives like the London System with Bf4 avoid this immediate tension.

Other paths here: Qd3 (Amazon Attack) · e4 (Blackmar-Diemer Gambit) · e3 (Queen's Pawn Game) · Bf4 (Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System)

2... e6Black · your move

Support your central d5 pawn by moving to e6. This solidifies your position and prepares to develop your kingside pieces.

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. Nc3White

White plays Nc3, the most natural developing move. It increases the heat on d5. White could also choose the Exchange Variation immediately with cxd5 or play Nf3 to keep their options more flexible.

Other paths here: Bf4 (QGD: 3.Bf4) · cxd5 (QGD: 3.cxd5) · e3 (QGD: 3.e3) · g3 (QGD: 3.g3)

3... Be7Black · your move

Slide your bishop to e7. This modest-looking move is very flexible, preparing for castling while staying out of the way of your other pieces.

Other paths here: Bb4 (QGD: 3.Nc3 Bb4) · Nc6 (QGD: 3.Nc3 Nc6) · a6 (Queen's Gambit Declined: Janowski Variation) · c6 (Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Move Order)

4. Nf3White

White develops the other knight to f3. This is standard development, though White sometimes tries the aggressive Miladinovic Gambit with e4 or the solid Alatortsev line with Bf4 before committing this knight.

Other paths here: Bf4 (QGD: Alatortsev, 4.Bf4) · cxd5 (QGD: Alatortsev, Exchange) · e4 (Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation, Miladinovic Gambit)

4... Nf6Black · your move

Develop your knight to f6 to defend d5 and prepare to get your king to safety.

5. Bg5White

White plays Bg5, creating an annoying pin. This is more ambitious than the Harrwitz Attack with Bf4, as it forces Black to address the pressure on the f6 knight immediately.

Other paths here: Bf4 (Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack, Fianchetto Defense)

5... h6Black · your move

Push your pawn to h6 to challenge the bishop and ask it where it intends to go.

6. Bh4White

White drops the bishop back to h4. Trading on f6 is the main alternative, leading to very different pawn structures, but keeping the bishop maintains the tension and the pin.

6... O-OBlack · your move

Tuck your king away to safety by castling. This also brings your rook closer to the action in the center.

7. e3White

White plays e3, a solid move that reinforces d4. White could also try Rc1, the Uhlmann Variation, to put pressure on the c-file before Black can organize their queenside.

Other paths here: Rc1 (Queen's Gambit Declined: Uhlmann Variation)

7... b6Black · your move

Push your pawn to b6. This prepares to fianchetto your bishop to b7, where it will exert great influence over the long diagonal.

Other paths here: Ne4 (Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense)

8. cxd5White

White initiates the Makogonov Exchange. By trading now, White hopes to disrupt Black's coordination before the bishop reaches b7. If White waits, Black will simply complete development.

8... Nxd5Black · your move

Capture back with your knight on d5. This active recapture centralizes your knight and prepares to trade off White's active dark-squared bishop.

Other paths here: exd5 (Queen's Gambit Declined: Tartakower Defense, Exchange Variation)

Where you stand

The position is balanced and rich with strategic depth. White will likely trade bishops on e7 and look to use the semi-open c-file, while Black will finalize their development with Bb7 and c5. Both sides have clear targets: White wants to pressure the queenside, while Black seeks to utilize their centralized pieces for a counter-strike.

• h4-e7 Trade bishops to reduce Black's defenders
• c8-b7 Fianchetto the bishop to the long diagonal
• c7-c5 Strike at the center with c5
• a1-c1 Place the rook on the semi-open file