ECO D37 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Knight Defense, Alekhine Gambit

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4

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

7. e3+0.39

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Knight Defense, Alekhine Gambit (D37), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. e3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.39).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.397. e3 Nb6 8. Ne5 Be7 9. a4 Nfd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. a5 Nd7
  2. +0.167. a4 b6 8. e3 Ba6 9. Nd2 Bb7 10. Nxc4 Be7 11. a5 a6
  3. +0.017. Nd2 c6 8. Nxc4 b5 9. Ne5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 g5 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Knight Defense, Alekhine Gambit?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. e3 for White, continuing Nb6 8. Ne5 Be7 9. a4 Nfd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. a5 Nd7. White is slightly better (+0.39). The next best moves are 7. a4 (+0.16) and 7. Nd2 (+0.01).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Knight Defense, Alekhine Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.39: 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: Knight Defense, Alekhine Gambit?
D37. 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+).