Tree path 3 levels Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation › Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Normal Line › Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense
- Chess Codex
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation D37
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Normal Line D55
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense D60 you are here
Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense
Overview
Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense is a sacrificial opening line filed under ECO D60 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.
The line arises from 12 plies — specifically the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Normal Line, part of the broader Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation system.
3 named variations grow from this line, including Botvinnik Variation, Main Line, Rubinstein Variation.
Together the deeper variations number 10 across the full subtree.
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
- D60
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 12
- Direct variations
- 3
- Total in subtree
- 10
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
863,880 games · White 48.5% / Draw 6.7% / Black 44.9%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Bd3 | 301,885 | |
| Rc1 | 162,555 | |
| cxd5 | 132,043 | |
| Qc2 | 95,384 | |
| Be2 | 72,683 | |
| c5 | 40,831 | |
| a3 | 22,086 | |
| h3 | 13,873 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:42:49
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Variations (3)
Show all 10 sub-variations (full subtree)
- D60 Botvinnik Variation 13-ply
- D63 Main Line 13-ply
- D61 Rubinstein Variation 13-ply
- D63 Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Henneberger Variation 14-ply
- D63 Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Main Line 14-ply
- D62 Flohr Line 15-ply
- D68 Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Classical Variation 25-ply
- D64 Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein Attack 15-ply
- D63 Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Swiss, Carlsbad Variation 15-ply
- D64 Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein Attack 16-ply