ECO D07 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation, Costa's Line

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. e3 e5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 exd4 8. Ne2

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

8… Nf6+0.38

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation, Costa's Line (D07), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. e3 e5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 exd4 8. Ne2, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… Nf6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.38).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.388… Nf6 9. Nxd4 O-O 10. f3 Re8 11. Kf2 Qc5 12. Qd2 Nd5 13. Nxc6
  2. +0.438… Nge7 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 O-O 12. Rc1 c6 13. Bc4
  3. +0.488… f6 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Ne7 12. a4 b6 13. a5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation, Costa's Line?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. e3 e5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 exd4 8. Ne2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… Nf6 for Black, continuing 9. Nxd4 O-O 10. f3 Re8 11. Kf2 Qc5 12. Qd2 Nd5 13. Nxc6. White is slightly better (+0.38). The next best moves are 8… Nge7 (+0.43) and 8… f6 (+0.48).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation, Costa's Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.38: 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: Chigorin Defense, Exchange Variation, Costa's Line?
D07. 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+).