Tree path 5 levels Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation › Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Normal Line › Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense › Main Line › Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Main Line
- 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
- Main Line D63
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Main Line D63 you are here
Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Main Line
Overview
Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Main Line is a gambit, classified under ECO code D63 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 14 plies — specifically the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6.
It is a variation of Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Main Line, which itself descends from the root opening Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation.
It branches into 2 notable variations — Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Classical Variation, Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein Attack.
Together the deeper variations number 3 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
- D63
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 14
- Direct variations
- 2
- Total in subtree
- 3
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
330,480 games · White 52.1% / Draw 6.8% / Black 41.1%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Bd3 | 175,453 | |
| a3 | 46,127 | |
| Qc2 | 36,480 | |
| cxd5 | 32,469 | |
| Be2 | 16,866 | |
| h3 | 9,003 | |
| c5 | 4,510 | |
| Qb3 | 3,017 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:00:35
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