The QGA is just fine for most players who want to win as White or as Black. Isn't that what most people want out of an opening for Black? For players below the GM level, the QGA is a dangerous weapon where the better player usually wins. That can backfire, even for +2700 rated GMs. The Queen's Gambit is a rich opening that can be interpreted many different ways, especially by White.Īmong GMs, the QGA is usually an attempt to get an early draw as Black. The Queen's Gambit can be played as a true gambit (for example by playing 3.e4), or white can choose to regain the pawn immediately. Some commonly repeated statements are not true. So what you're saying is that if it is accepted or declined, I should start doing what I've been taught to do already develop my pieces, hold the center and protect the king. Thank you for leading me to a source of knowledge, that of which I could not find on my own because 'reasons.' For example, there are many, many problems with the queen's gambit declined variation that you listed, but one of them is that neither player has taken the time to develop his pieces.

It will help you understand basic variations of many openings and teach you basic ideas like, for example, don't move too many pawns in the opening, or don't move a piece (or a pawn) twice, or develop your pieces quickly and effectively. You should buy this book, Improve Your Opening Play, by Chris Ward ( ). Eventually, as you get better at chess and understand these openings better through practice, you will understand why the two variations you listed are bad (and hence not the main lines of the opening). You can play d5 as black and play the queen's gambit accepted or declined. If you are a beginning player, play e4 as white.

How to play the queen's gambit declined