Queen's Gambit

The Queen's Gambit is the chess opening that begins with the moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 It is one of the oldest openings and is still commonly played today. It is traditionally described as a gambit because White appears to sacrifice the c-pawn; however, Black cannot retain the pawn without incurring a disadvantage. 2...dxc4 is the Queen's Gambit Accepted (QGA), where Black temporarily gives up the center to obtain freer development. Alternatives to 2...dxc4 can be collectively termed the Queen's Gambit Declined (QGD). 2...e6 is Black's classical main reply; the QGD term is often used to refer only to play after 2...e6. 2...c6, the Slav Defense, is the main alternative to 2...e6 for declining the gambit. Black frequently plays to maintain a pawn on d5; the game will be cramped, but exchanging pieces and using pawn breaks at c5 and e5 can free Black's game. Alternatively, Black may delay ...dxc4 until White has already played Bd3 or Be2, as this would win a tempo if White plays Bxc4, moving the bishop a second time. Particularly in the Slav, Black may plan to play ...dxc4 without tempo anyway; a pawn on c6 can support ...b5, threatening to hold on to the pawn on c4.