Queen's Gambit Accepted
D20 · Played as black · Intermediate · Queen's Gambit
Accept the pawn and fight for equality with active play
The main line
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.O-O a6 7.Qe2 b5 8.Bb3 Bb7 9.Rd1 Nbd7
Strategic ideas
- Accept the c4 pawn and consider defending it with …b5
- Develop actively with …Nf6 and …c5 to counter-attack White's centre
- Use the open d-file after …dxc4 for rook activity
- Exchange pieces to neutralise White's space advantage
- Create queenside counterplay before White's central bind becomes oppressive
Key themes
- Dynamic — Accepting the gambit leads to unbalanced positions where both sides have concrete plans
- Open Files — The d-file opens immediately and becomes a key battleground for both sides' rooks
- Piece Activity — Active piece development compensates for the temporary structural concession of accepting the pawn
Typical plans
Black captures on c4 and may try to hold the extra pawn with …b5, or simply develop actively and return it at the right moment for comfortable equality. The open d-file and active piece play compensate for any structural looseness. White will try to establish a central bind with e4; Black must neutralise this immediately with timely …c5 breaks.
Move by move
- d4 — White claims the centre.
- d5 — Black meets it symmetrically.
- c4 — White offers the gambit pawn.
- dxc4 — Black accepts, planning to give the pawn back later for active, comfortable development rather than clinging to it.
- Nf3 — White develops rather than rushing to recapture the pawn immediately.
- Nf6 — Black develops, preparing …c5 to counter-attack the centre.
- e3 — White prepares to recapture on c4 with the bishop and supports a future d5 push.
- e6 — Black keeps the structure solid and opens the way to develop the dark-squared bishop.
- Bxc4 — White recovers the pawn, developing actively toward f7.
- c5 — Black strikes back in the centre immediately, refusing to let White's extra space go unchallenged.
- O-O — White castles into safety before deciding how to meet Black's queenside expansion.
- a6 — Black prepares …b5 to defend the extra space gained by …c5.
- Qe2 — White develops the queen, preparing Rd1 to add pressure down the d-file.
- b5 — Black grabs more queenside space, defending c5 and preparing to fianchetto.
- Bb3 — White retreats the bishop out of any future …c4 or …b4 tempo tricks.
- Bb7 — Black fianchettoes, aiming the bishop at the long diagonal and adding pressure to e4.
- Rd1 — White adds the rook to the semi-open d-file, the classic follow-up in these structures.
- Nbd7 — Black completes development, ready to meet White's central pressure with accurate piece play.