Tree path 6 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Queen's Gambit › Queen's Gambit Declined › Queen's Knight Variation › Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation › Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker 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: Charousek Variation D31
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense D56 you are here
Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense
Overview
Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense is a gambit, classified under ECO code D56 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.
It begins with 14 plies and takes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 to reach the canonical position.
It is a variation of Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation, which itself descends from the root opening Queen's Pawn Game.
It continues primarily into one named line, Main Line.
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
- D56
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 14
- 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
134,586 games · White 47.2% / Draw 8.7% / Black 44.1%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Bxe7 | 122,281 | |
| Bg3 | 7,607 | |
| Nxe4 | 3,163 | |
| Bd3 | 532 | |
| cxd5 | 519 | |
| Qc2 | 204 | |
| Rc1 | 95 | |
| Be2 | 51 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:00:26
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