Tree path 6 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: Harrwitz Attack, Orthodox Defense
- Chess Codex
- Queen's Pawn Game D00
- Queen's Gambit D06
- Queen's Gambit Declined D30
- Queen's Knight Variation D31
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Normal Defense D35
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack, Orthodox Defense D37 you are here
Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack, Orthodox Defense
Overview
Queen's Gambit Declined: Harrwitz Attack, Orthodox Defense 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.
Play reaches this position via 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c6, after 12 plies of opening development.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Queen's Gambit Declined: Normal Defense, 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
- D37
- 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
447,690 games · White 52.6% / Draw 5.7% / Black 41.7%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Bd3 | 161,753 | |
| Be2 | 56,707 | |
| h3 | 51,857 | |
| cxd5 | 44,755 | |
| c5 | 44,537 | |
| Rc1 | 32,905 | |
| Qc2 | 26,231 | |
| a3 | 11,166 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:42:15
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Submissions are reviewed before publishing.