Tree path 5 levels Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation › Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense › Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense › Exchange Variation › Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Exchange Variation
- Chess Codex
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation D37
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense D40
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense D41
- Exchange Variation D41
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Exchange Variation D41 you are here
Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Exchange Variation
Overview
Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Exchange Variation is a gambit, classified under ECO code D41 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.
Play reaches this position via 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3, after 13 plies of opening development.
It is a variation of Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Exchange Variation, which itself descends from the root opening Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation.
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
- D41
- Group
- Closed & Semi-Closed Games (D)
- Plies
- 13
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
307,246 games · White 48.5% / Draw 8.5% / Black 42.9%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| cxd4 | 225,149 | |
| Nc6 | 53,197 | |
| Be7 | 12,979 | |
| Qa5 | 5,591 | |
| g6 | 3,145 | |
| b6 | 2,554 | |
| a6 | 1,306 | |
| Nd7 | 1,120 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:51:39
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