ECO D63 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Henneberger Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 a6

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

8. c5+0.39

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Henneberger Variation (D63), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 a6, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. c5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.39).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.398. c5 Ne4 9. Bf4 g5 10. Bg3 f5 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Ne5 f4
  2. +0.398. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 c6 10. h3 Re8 11. O-O Nf8 12. Ne5 N6d7
  3. +0.268. a4 c5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Nxd5 exd5 12. dxc5 Nxc5

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 a6 8. c5
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 a6 8. c5 c6
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 a6 8. c5 c6 9. Bd3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Henneberger Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 a6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. c5 for White, continuing Ne4 9. Bf4 g5 10. Bg3 f5 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Ne5 f4. White is slightly better (+0.39). The next best moves are 8. cxd5 (+0.39) and 8. a4 (+0.26).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Henneberger Variation 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: Orthodox Defense, Henneberger Variation?
D63. 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+).