ECO D55 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Neo-Orthodox Variation, Main Line

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3

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

7… b6+0.14

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

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Neo-Orthodox Variation, Main Line (D55), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… b6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.14).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.147… b6 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nbd7 11. Qc2 Nd5 12. Bxd5
  2. +0.187… Nbd7 8. Qc2 c5 9. cxd5 cxd4 10. d6 dxc3 11. dxe7 Qxe7 12. Qxc3
  3. +0.247… Ne4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. Bd3 Nxc3 11. Rxc3 dxc4 12. Rxc4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Neo-Orthodox Variation, Main Line?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… b6 for Black, continuing 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nbd7 11. Qc2 Nd5 12. Bxd5. The position is roughly equal (+0.14). The next best moves are 7… Nbd7 (+0.18) and 7… Ne4 (+0.24).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Neo-Orthodox Variation, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.14: 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: Neo-Orthodox Variation, Main Line?
D55. 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+).