About this opening
Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings,
classified under code D60. 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 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7.
It belongs to the Queen's Gambit Declined family. Within that family this is a sub-variation (the Orthodox Defense line).
The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nf3 d5, 4.Nc3 Be7, 5.Bg5 O-O, 6.e3 Nbd7. From this position 4 named continuations are recorded in the encyclopaedia, each leading to a distinct theoretical line.