ECO D35 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Chameleon Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Qc2 Re8 9. Nge2 Nf8 10. O-O-O

abcdefgh87654321
Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

10… a5−0.36

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Chameleon Variation (D35), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Qc2 Re8 9. Nge2 Nf8 10. O-O-O, Stockfish 18 recommends 10… a5 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.36).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.3610… a5 11. f3 c6 12. Kb1 b5 13. e4 dxe4 14. Nxe4 Bd7 15. Bxf6
  2. −0.3410… c6 11. f3 b5 12. Kb1 a5 13. e4 dxe4 14. Nxe4 Bd7 15. Bxf6
  3. −0.2510… h6 11. Bf4 Ne6 12. Be5 c6 13. Kb1 b5 14. Nf4 a5 15. f3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Chameleon Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Qc2 Re8 9. Nge2 Nf8 10. O-O-O, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10… a5 for Black, continuing 11. f3 c6 12. Kb1 b5 13. e4 dxe4 14. Nxe4 Bd7 15. Bxf6. Black is slightly better (−0.36). The next best moves are 10… c6 (−0.34) and 10… h6 (−0.25).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Chameleon Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.36: black 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, Chameleon 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+).