ECO D26 · Queen's Gambit Accepted

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

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O cxd4

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

7. exd4+0.40

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Exchange Variation (D26), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O cxd4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. exd4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.40).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.407. exd4 Nc6 8. Nc3 Be7 9. Bb3 O-O 10. Bf4 Nb4 11. Ne5 Nc6
  2. +0.317. Qxd4 Qxd4 8. Nxd4 Be7 9. Nb5 Na6 10. N1c3 O-O 11. e4 Rd8
  3. +0.267. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. e4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Bc6 11. Qe3 Bd6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Exchange Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O cxd4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. exd4 for White, continuing Nc6 8. Nc3 Be7 9. Bb3 O-O 10. Bf4 Nb4 11. Ne5 Nc6. White is slightly better (+0.40). The next best moves are 7. Qxd4 (+0.31) and 7. Nxd4 (+0.26).
Is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Exchange Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.40: 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, Exchange 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+).