ECO D30 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Capablanca Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 h6

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

5. Bxf6+0.31

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Capablanca Variation (D30), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 h6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Bxf6 for White. White is slightly better (+0.31).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.315. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. Nc3 c6 7. e3 Bd6 8. Qc2 Nd7 9. Bd3 dxc4
  2. +0.015. Bh4 dxc4 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nbd7 9. e3 b5
  3. −0.135. Qa4+ Qd7 6. Qxd7+ Nbxd7 7. Bxf6 Nxf6 8. e3 Be7 9. Nc3 O-O

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. Bg5 c6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. e3

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Capablanca Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 h6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Bxf6 for White, continuing Qxf6 6. Nc3 c6 7. e3 Bd6 8. Qc2 Nd7 9. Bd3 dxc4. White is slightly better (+0.31). The next best moves are 5. Bh4 (+0.01) and 5. Qa4+ (−0.13).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Capablanca Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.31: 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 Declined: Capablanca Variation?
D30. 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+).