Haren
The Queen’s Gambit is one of the oldest openings known and is still popular with top players. The name captured public imagination following the Netflix miniseries which told the fictional story of an orphan girl who rose to the top of the chess world.
The Queen’s Gambit is the name for the moves that start with 1. d4 d5 2. c4…. Why is it called a gambit? That’s because White appears to offer a sacrifice with its 2.c4, but in reality is a ploy to capture the centre and positional advantage with e4, should Black capture it. As Black discovers later, it cannot hold on to its pawn advantage without incurring positional disadvantage or threat to its pieces as the game develops. White’s mission is clear all along: dominate the centre.
Those following the 2024 World Chess Championship would spot this is the opening in Game 3 between Ding Liren and D Gukesh.
The Queen’s Gambit
Depending on Black’s response, the opening branches off into two major categories.
1) Queen’s Gambit Accepted: Where Black accepts the pawn with 2… dxc4. White develops the centre and aims to neutralise in the following moves.
2) Queen’s Gambit Declined: Black declines the offer and responds with a move like … e6 to keep the centre intact.
Key variations of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted
a) Main Line: 1) d4 d5 2) c4 dxc4 After the c pawn capture, the next moves are 3) Nf3 Nf6 4) e3 e6 5) Bxc4 c5 6) O-O a6.. White aims for control of the centre and kingside play
b) Alekhine Defence to QGA: ….. 3) Nf3 a6 4) e3 b5 5) a4 Bb7 Black aims to develop the pieces and undermine White’s hold on the centre.
Key variations of the Queen’s Gambit Declined
a) Tarrasch Defence: 1) d4 d5 2) c4 e6 3) Nc3 c5… Black does not accept the gambit pawn but instead develops a more active pawn structure
b) Orthodox Defence: 1) d4 d5 2) c4 e6 3) Nc3 Nf6 4) Bg5 Be7.. It is more solid play for Black, though it gives White more freedom in development.
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