ECO D35 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Sämisch Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bf4

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

6… c6+0.19

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

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Sämisch Variation (D35), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bf4, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… c6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.19).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.196… c6 7. Qc2 Nh5 8. Bd2 Ndf6 9. e3 Bd6 10. Bd3 Qe7 11. O-O
  2. +0.336… Nb6 7. Qc2 Nh5 8. Bg5 Be7 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. e3 c6 11. Be2
  3. +0.366… Bb4 7. e3 c6 8. Qb3 Be7 9. h3 Nf8 10. Bd3 Ng6 11. Bh2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Sämisch Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bf4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… c6 for Black, continuing 7. Qc2 Nh5 8. Bd2 Ndf6 9. e3 Bd6 10. Bd3 Qe7 11. O-O. The position is roughly equal (+0.19). The next best moves are 6… Nb6 (+0.33) and 6… Bb4 (+0.36).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Exchange Variation, Sämisch Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.19: 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: Exchange Variation, Sämisch 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+).