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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

The Queen's Gambit Declined: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6

The Queen's Gambit Declined (QGD) is, in its broadest sense, any variation of the Queen's Gambit chess opening where Black does not play the Queen's Gambit Accepted, 2...dxc4, after 1.d4 d5 2.c4. However, it usually refers to the opening moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6. Other variations where Black does not take the pawn on c4 have their own names.

• 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c5 Symmetrical Defense
• 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 Slav Defense
• 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 Chigorin Defense
• 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 Albin Countergambit
• 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5 Baltic Defense
• 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 Marshall Defense

The Queen's Gambit Declined is often reached by a number of other move orders, such as 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5; 1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4; or 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.d4.

• By declining the temporary pawn sacrifice by means of 2...e6, Black erects a solid position; the pawns on d5 and e6 give Black a foothold in the center. The Queen's Gambit Declined has a reputation of being one of Black's most reliable defenses to 1.d4.
• Playing 2...e6 releases Black's dark-squared bishop, but blocks the light-squared bishop. White will try to exploit the passivity of this bishop, and Black will try to release it, trade it off or prove that, while passive, the bishop has a useful defensive role.
• Since Black does not take the pawn, the issue of the center remains unresolved.
  • An eventual ...dxc4 from Black will surrender the center to White, and Black will usually not do this until he can extract a concession. Usually this is in the form of White developing his king's bishop with Bd3, then after ...dxc4 White is forced to move his bishop again, giving Black a free move to launch an assault on the White center by means of ...c5 and/or ...e5.
  • If White decides to resolve the issue of the center by means of cxd5, Black will usually reply with ...exd5 in order to keep the foothold in the center. White will then have a majority of pawns in the center, Black has a majority of pawns on the queenside. Such a pawn structure gives White opportunities to either try to advance his pawns in the center, or start playing for a minority attack by means of pawn advances to b4 and b5, attempting to weaken the Black queenside. For Black, the pawn structure has released his light-squared bishop and opened the e-file and he will be looking to use his activity to launch an attack on White's king.
  • If Black is willing to accept an isolated d-pawn he can play a quick ...c5. This leads to a variation of the QGD called the Tarrasch Defense.

After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 White usually plays 3.Nc3 or 3.Nf3.

• If Black now plays 3...c6, the game is the Semi-Slav Defense, which bears resemblance to both the Slav Defense and the other lines of the Queen's Gambit Declined.
• 3...c5 is the Tarrasch Defense.
• 3...Nf6 is the main line of the QGD, sometimes called the Orthodox Defense, but this term is also used more specifically to the system described below.
• 3...Be7 usually transposes to positions arising from 3...Nf6, but it avoids some lines in the Exchange Variation. After 3...Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 White has the annoying pin 5.Bg5, but 3...Be7 prevents this.

The main line of the QGD: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6

Lines beginning with the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 are covered by ECO codes D35-D39. These are old lines that can transpose into many other queen pawn openings. Continuations from this point include:

• The Tartakower Defense: 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 b6, is a solid continuation.
• The Lasker Defense: 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 h6 6.Bh4 Ne4, is also a solid line, often leading to the exchange of two sets of minor pieces.
• The Cambridge Springs Defense: 4.Bg5 Nbd7 (setting the Elephant Trap) 5.Nf3 c6 6.e3 Qa5, is a little old-fashioned, but still played today. Black intends ...Bb4 and possibly ...Ne4, with pressure along the a5-e1 diagonal. It is popular among amateurs because there are several traps White can fall into, for example 7.Nd2 (one of the main lines, countering Black's pressure along the diagonal) Bb4 8.Qc2 0-0 9.Bd3?? dxc4! (threatening ...Qxg5) 10.Bxf6 cxd3! (a zwischenzug) 11.Qxd3 Nxf6 and Black has won a piece.
• The Orthodox Defense: 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nf3 c6 6.e3 0-0 7.Rc1 Nbd7 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4, though the moves are not always played in that order. Black has surrendered the center and stands somewhat cramped, but has succeeded in making White lose a tempo by playing Bd3 before Bxc4. White will try to use his advantage in space to attack; whereas Black will try to keep White at bay while striking back at the center.
• The Exchange Variation (ECO code D35): 4.cxd5 exd5, is common in contemporary master play, and has the advantage of quickly fixing the pawn structure.