Tree path 2 levels Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation › Queen's Gambit Declined: Barmen Variation
- Caissa Codex
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation D37
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Barmen Variation D37 you are here
Queen's Gambit Declined: Barmen Variation
Overview
Queen's Gambit Declined: Barmen Variation is a sacrificial opening line filed under ECO D37 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 8 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7.
It branches immediately from Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation in the opening tree.
2 named variations grow from this line, including Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Sämisch Variation, Queen's Gambit Declined: Knight Defense, Alekhine Gambit.
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
- D37
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 8
- Direct variations
- 2
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
716,112 games · White 49.4% / Draw 6.0% / Black 44.5%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Bg5 | 352,452 | |
| Bf4 | 115,504 | |
| e3 | 108,001 | |
| cxd5 | 63,565 | |
| g3 | 38,839 | |
| Qc2 | 9,751 | |
| a3 | 9,275 | |
| c5 | 5,518 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:56:01
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