ECO D51 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Knight Defense

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7

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

5. cxd5+0.27

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

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Knight Defense (D51), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. cxd5 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.27).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.275. cxd5 exd5 6. e3 c6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. Rc1 Nf8 9. Nf3 h6
  2. +0.225. e3 Be7 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bf4 O-O 8. c5 c6 9. Bd3 b6
  3. +0.215. Nf3 h6 6. Bh4 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Qc2 c5 9. Rd1 Qa5

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3
  • 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Knight Defense?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. cxd5 for White, continuing exd5 6. e3 c6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. Rc1 Nf8 9. Nf3 h6. The position is roughly equal (+0.27). The next best moves are 5. e3 (+0.22) and 5. Nf3 (+0.21).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Knight Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.27: 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: Modern Variation, Knight Defense?
D51. 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+).