Tree path 8 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Queen's Gambit › Queen's Gambit Declined › Queen's Knight Variation › Queen's Gambit Declined: Normal Defense › Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation › Queen's Gambit Declined › Queen's Gambit Declined
Queen's Gambit Declined
Overview
Queen's Gambit Declined is a sacrificial opening line filed under ECO D53 in the Closed & Semi-Closed Games group. The defining idea is the early concession of material to seize the initiative and unbalance the position.
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 is reached after 9 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nf3.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Queen's Gambit Declined, part of the broader Queen's Pawn Game system.
Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.
- ECO code
- D53
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 9
- Parent
- Queen's Gambit Declined
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
4,238,994 games · White 49.2% / Draw 6.3% / Black 44.5%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| O-O | 2,221,733 | |
| h6 | 678,490 | |
| c6 | 363,943 | |
| Nbd7 | 346,323 | |
| a6 | 128,003 | |
| b6 | 122,984 | |
| dxc4 | 119,829 | |
| c5 | 101,114 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:09:26
Write a description
Markdown supported (headings ###, bold, lists, links).
Submissions are reviewed before publishing.