Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO D52), reached after 12 half-moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5.

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Continue from this position

3 replies continue into sub-variations from this position. Click any to drill deeper.

7.Nd2 3 lines
7.Bxf6 1 line
- D52 Capablanca Variation
7.cxd5 1 line
- D52 Yugoslav Variation

About this opening

Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code D52. ECO group D (D00–D99) covers closed games and semi-closed games beginning 1.d4 d5, covering the Queen's Gambit, Slav, Grünfeld and related queen-pawn structures. This particular variation is reached after 12 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5.

It belongs to the Queen's Gambit Declined family. Within that family this is a sub-variation (the Cambridge Springs Defense line).

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 d5, 2.c4 c6, 3.Nf3 Nf6, 4.Nc3 e6, 5.Bg5 Nbd7, 6.e3 Qa5. From this position 3 named continuations are recorded in the encyclopaedia, each leading to a distinct theoretical line.