Tree path 9 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Queen's Gambit › Slav Defense › Modern Line › Slav Defense: Three Knights Variation › Semi-Slav Defense › Queen's Gambit Declined › Cambridge Springs Defense › Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense
- Chess Codex
- Queen's Pawn Game D00
- Queen's Gambit D06
- Slav Defense D10
- Modern Line D11
- Slav Defense: Three Knights Variation D15
- Semi-Slav Defense D43
- Queen's Gambit Declined D52
- Cambridge Springs Defense D52
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense D52 you are here
Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense
Overview
Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense is a gambit, classified under ECO code D52 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 13 plies — specifically the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. cxd5.
It is a variation of Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense, which itself descends from the root opening Queen's Pawn Game.
It continues primarily into one named line, Yugoslav Variation.
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
- D52
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 13
- Direct variations
- 1
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
76,149 games · White 50.0% / Draw 5.8% / Black 44.2%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Nxd5 | 41,370 | |
| exd5 | 28,683 | |
| cxd5 | 3,203 | |
| Ne4 | 2,229 | |
| Bb4 | 626 | |
| e5 | 13 | |
| Bd6 | 7 | |
| c5 | 5 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:52:10
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