ECO D52 · Queen's Gambit Declined

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

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. Nf3 Qa5 7. Bxf6

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

7… Nxf6+0.12

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

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense, Capablanca Variation (D52), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. Nf3 Qa5 7. Bxf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Nxf6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.12).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.127… Nxf6 8. Bd3 Bb4 9. Qb3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 O-O 11. O-O c5 12. Rfd1
  2. +0.497… gxf6 8. Rc1 Nb6 9. c5 Nd7 10. Rb1 Qc7 11. Bd3 Bg7 12. O-O
  3. +2.687… Qb4 8. Bh4 Qxb2 9. Rc1 Bb4 10. Qd2 Qa3 11. Qc2 e5 12. Be2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense, Capablanca Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. Nf3 Qa5 7. Bxf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Nxf6 for Black, continuing 8. Bd3 Bb4 9. Qb3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 O-O 11. O-O c5 12. Rfd1. The position is roughly equal (+0.12). The next best moves are 7… gxf6 (+0.49) and 7… Qb4 (+2.68).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Defense, Capablanca Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.12: 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, Capablanca 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+).