Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Carlsen Variation
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Bg4
8. Qb3+0.50
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Carlsen Variation (D35), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Bg4, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. Qb3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.50).
Top engine moves
- +0.508. Qb3 Nbd7 9. h3 Be6 10. Qxb7 O-O 11. Bb5 Rb8 12. Qxa7 Ne4
- +0.408. Qc2 O-O 9. h3 Be6 10. Nf3 Ne8 11. Bg3 Bd6 12. Ne5 Nc6
- +0.398. Nf3 c6 9. Qb3 Qc7 10. Bd3 Nbd7 11. h3 Bxf3 12. gxf3 O-O
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Carlsen Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Bg4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. Qb3 for White, continuing Nbd7 9. h3 Be6 10. Qxb7 O-O 11. Bb5 Rb8 12. Qxa7 Ne4. White is slightly better (+0.50). The next best moves are 8. Qc2 (+0.40) and 8. Nf3 (+0.39).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Carlsen Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.50: 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: Exchange Variation, Carlsen Variation?
D35. 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+).