Tree path 6 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Queen's Gambit › Queen's Gambit Accepted › Normal Variation › Queen's Gambit Accepted › Normal 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 you are here
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation
Overview
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation is a gambit, classified under ECO code D25 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.
The line arises from 7 plies — specifically the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3.
It is a variation of Queen's Gambit Accepted, which itself descends from the root opening Queen's Pawn Game.
It branches into 4 notable variations — Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation, Traditional System, Queen's Gambit Accepted: Smyslov Variation, and others.
Together the deeper variations number 17 across the full subtree.
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
- D25
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 7
- Parent
- Queen's Gambit Accepted
- Direct variations
- 4
- Total in subtree
- 17
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
835,767 games · White 53.1% / Draw 6.7% / Black 40.2%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| e6 | 326,259 | |
| Bg4 | 157,872 | |
| b5 | 80,104 | |
| a6 | 51,200 | |
| c5 | 46,614 | |
| Nc6 | 43,867 | |
| Bf5 | 38,173 | |
| g6 | 27,423 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:42:37
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Variations (4)
Show all 17 sub-variations (full subtree)
- D25 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation 8-ply
- D26 Traditional System 8-ply
- D25 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Smyslov Variation 8-ply
- D25 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Winawer Defense 8-ply
- D26 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense 10-ply
- D26 Normal Line 11-ply
- D26 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical, Furman Variation 19-ply
- D27 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Main Line 12-ply
- D26 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Development Variation 12-ply
- D26 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Exchange Variation 12-ply
- D28 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Alekhine System 13-ply
- D27 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Rubinstein Variation 13-ply
- D27 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Furman Variation 14-ply
- D28 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Alekhine System 14-ply
- D29 Main Line 16-ply
- D28 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical, Flohr Variation 26-ply
- D29 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Alekhine System, Smyslov Variation 20-ply