Tree path 7 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 › Knight Defense
Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Knight Defense
Overview
Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Knight Defense is a gambit, classified under ECO code D51 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 8 plies and takes 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 to reach the canonical position.
It is a variation of Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, which itself descends from the root opening Queen's Pawn Game.
It branches into 3 notable variations — Queen's Gambit Declined: Alekhine Variation, Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Knight Defense, Queen's Gambit Declined: Rochlin Variation.
Together the deeper variations number 8 across the full subtree.
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
- D51
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 8
- Direct variations
- 3
- Total in subtree
- 8
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
845,771 games · White 47.7% / Draw 5.8% / Black 46.5%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| e3 | 410,531 | |
| Nf3 | 221,595 | |
| cxd5 | 124,052 | |
| e4 | 38,607 | |
| c5 | 15,771 | |
| a3 | 8,856 | |
| f3 | 6,279 | |
| Bxf6 | 5,603 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:56:19
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Variations (3)
Show all 8 sub-variations (full subtree)
- D51 Queen's Gambit Declined: Alekhine Variation 11-ply
- D51 Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Knight Defense 9-ply
- D51 Queen's Gambit Declined: Rochlin Variation 13-ply
- D51 Queen's Gambit Declined: Manhattan Variation 10-ply
- D51 Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Knight Defense 10-ply
- D52 Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense, Argentine Variation 17-ply
- D52 Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense, Capablanca Variation 13-ply
- D51 Queen's Gambit Declined: Capablanca Variation, Anti-Cambridge Springs Variation 11-ply