ECO D52 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

7. cxd5+0.26

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

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense (D52), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. cxd5 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.26).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.267. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Rc1 Bb4 9. Qd2 e5 10. e4 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Ba3
  2. +0.217. Bf4 Bb4 8. Qb3 Ne4 9. Rc1 Nb6 10. Bc7 Kd7 11. Bf4 Ke8
  3. +0.187. Rc1 Ne4 8. Bf4 Bb4 9. Qb3 Nb6 10. Bd3 Nxc4 11. Bxc4 dxc4

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. cxd5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. cxd5 for White, continuing Nxd5 8. Rc1 Bb4 9. Qd2 e5 10. e4 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Ba3. The position is roughly equal (+0.26). The next best moves are 7. Bf4 (+0.21) and 7. Rc1 (+0.18).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.26: 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 Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense?
D52. 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+).