ECO D26 · Queen's Gambit Accepted

Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Development Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

7. a3+0.49

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Development Variation (D26), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. a3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.49).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.497. a3 cxd4 8. exd4 Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Bf4 b6 11. Qd3 Bb7
  2. +0.407. Qe2 a6 8. Bb3 b5 9. Nc3 Be7 10. dxc5 O-O 11. e4 Qc7
  3. +0.407. Nc3 a6 8. Qe2 b5 9. Bb3 Be7 10. dxc5 O-O 11. e4 Bb7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Development Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. a3 for White, continuing cxd4 8. exd4 Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Bf4 b6 11. Qd3 Bb7. White is slightly better (+0.49). The next best moves are 7. Qe2 (+0.40) and 7. Nc3 (+0.40).
Is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Development Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.49: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Development Variation?
D26. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; D is the volume for closed and semi-closed games.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).