ECO D21 · Queen's Gambit Accepted

Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3

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

3… Nf6+0.35

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation (D21), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… Nf6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.35).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.353… Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 a6 6. O-O c5 7. a4 cxd4 8. exd4
  2. +0.363… e6 4. e3 a6 5. a4 Nf6 6. Bxc4 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. Qe2
  3. +0.373… a6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 Nf6 6. a4 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. Qe2

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… Nf6 for Black, continuing 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 a6 6. O-O c5 7. a4 cxd4 8. exd4. White is slightly better (+0.35). The next best moves are 3… e6 (+0.36) and 3… a6 (+0.37).
Is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Normal Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.35: 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: Normal Variation?
D21. 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+).