Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO D53), reached after 10 half-moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Ne4.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black knight — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Continue from this position

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

6.Bh4 4 lines
6.Nf3 1 line
- D56 Russian Variation

About this opening

Queen's Gambit Declined: Lasker Defense is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code D53. 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 10 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Ne4.

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

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 d5, 4.Bg5 Be7, 5.e3 Ne4. From this position 2 named continuations are recorded in the encyclopaedia, each leading to a distinct theoretical line.