D63

Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Swiss, Carlsbad Variation

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Statistics from Lichess

12,223 games: White 50.2% / Draw 7.6% / Black 42.2%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next move	Games	White / Draw / BlackW / D / B
	9,8089,808
	2,4032,403
	99
	11
	11
	11

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 27, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.32 White is slightly better

Best play: 8... exd5 9. Bd3 c6 10. O-O Ne4 11. Bf4 Ndf6 12. h3 Nxc3 13. bxc3

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Swiss, Carlsbad Variation (ECO D63, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a declined gambit in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Henneberger Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 a6 8. cxd5 (8 moves).

In 12,223 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.2%, Black 42.2% and 7.6% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 8…exd5, in 80% of those games.

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Description

How to play against the Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Swiss, Carlsbad Variation

The most played answer, 8…exd5, also scores best for Black: 47.0%, with Black winning 43.0% and White 49.1% of 9,808 games. Of the main answers, 8…Nxd5 scores lowest: 42.1%. Stockfish's first choice is also 8…exd5.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Swiss, Carlsbad Variation (D63)”. Lichess data as of 27 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/queens-gambit-declined-orthodox-defense-swiss-carlsbad-variation