Tree path 4 levels Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation › Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Normal Line › Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense › Rubinstein Variation
Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein Variation
Overview
Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein Variation is a sacrificial opening line filed under ECO D61 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.
It is reached after 13 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Qc2.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, part of the broader Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation system.
It continues primarily into one named line, Flohr Line.
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
- D61
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 13
- 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
111,754 games · White 51.0% / Draw 6.5% / Black 42.4%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| h6 | 23,424 | |
| c6 | 23,322 | |
| b6 | 20,135 | |
| c5 | 18,811 | |
| a6 | 15,443 | |
| Re8 | 5,389 | |
| dxc4 | 4,298 | |
| Nb6 | 238 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:52:29
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