Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO D40), reached after 8 half-moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5.

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

Continue from this position

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

5.cxd5 4 lines
5.e3 2 lines
- D40 Levenfish Variation
- D40 Symmetrical Variation
5.Bg5 1 line
- D40 Pillsbury Variation
5.e4 1 line
- D41 San Sebastian Variation
5.Nf3 1 line
- D50 Krause Variation

About this opening

Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code D40. 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 8 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5.

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

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nf3 d5, 4.Nc3 c5. From this position 5 named continuations are recorded in the encyclopaedia, each leading to a distinct theoretical line.