ECO D52 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense, Argentine Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. Nf3 Qa5 7. Nd2 Bb4 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Bh4

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

9… c5+0.23

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

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense, Argentine Variation (D52), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. Nf3 Qa5 7. Nd2 Bb4 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Bh4, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… c5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.23).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.239… c5 10. Nb3 Qb6 11. a3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 e5 13. dxc5 Qc6 14. cxd5
  2. +0.289… e5 10. Nb3 Qc7 11. Bd3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 a5 13. O-O a4 14. Nd2
  3. +0.489… b6 10. Be2 dxc4 11. Nxc4 Qf5 12. Qxf5 exf5 13. Rc1 f4 14. exf4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense, Argentine Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. Nf3 Qa5 7. Nd2 Bb4 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Bh4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… c5 for Black, continuing 10. Nb3 Qb6 11. a3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 e5 13. dxc5 Qc6 14. cxd5. The position is roughly equal (+0.23). The next best moves are 9… e5 (+0.28) and 9… b6 (+0.48).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense, Argentine Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.23: 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, Argentine Variation?
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+).