Tree path 10 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Queen's Gambit › Queen's Gambit Accepted › Normal Variation › Queen's Gambit Accepted › Normal Variation › Traditional System › Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense › Normal Line › Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Exchange Variation
- Chess Codex
- Queen's Pawn Game D00
- Queen's Gambit D06
- Queen's Gambit Accepted D20
- Normal Variation D21
- Queen's Gambit Accepted D23
- Normal Variation D25
- Traditional System D26
- Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense D26
- Normal Line D26
- Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Exchange Variation D26 you are here
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Exchange Variation
Overview
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Exchange Variation is a gambit, classified under ECO code D26 within the Closed & Semi-Closed Games family. As with all gambits, one side sacrifices material early — usually a pawn — in exchange for development, open lines, or initiative.
The Closed & Semi-Closed Games group covers closed and semi-closed games — 1.d4 systems characterised by long strategic manoeuvring rather than early tactics.
It begins with 12 plies and takes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O cxd4 to reach the canonical position.
It is a variation of Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Normal Line, which itself descends from the root opening Queen's Pawn Game.
Step through the moves on the interactive board below, review the live Lichess statistics, or play this position against Stockfish at one of six difficulty levels.
- ECO code
- D26
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 12
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
57,061 games · White 48.1% / Draw 8.4% / Black 43.6%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| exd4 | 28,782 | |
| Nxd4 | 19,828 | |
| Qxd4 | 7,530 | |
| Qe2 | 448 | |
| Bb5+ | 112 | |
| Qa4+ | 67 | |
| Qb3 | 61 | |
| a3 | 37 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:41:48
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