ECO D24 · Queen's Gambit Accepted

Queen's Gambit Accepted: Showalter Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3

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

4… a6+0.18

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Showalter Variation (D24), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… a6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.18).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.184… a6 5. e4 b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. a4 e6 8. axb5 Bb4 9. Qc2
  2. +0.314… e6 5. e4 b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nxb5 Nb6 8. Be2 Bb7 9. O-O
  3. +0.384… c6 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Nbd7 8. O-O Bb4 9. Nh4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Showalter Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… a6 for Black, continuing 5. e4 b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. a4 e6 8. axb5 Bb4 9. Qc2. The position is roughly equal (+0.18). The next best moves are 4… e6 (+0.31) and 4… c6 (+0.38).
Is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Showalter Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.18: the position is roughly equal. 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: Showalter Variation?
D24. 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+).