Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Swiss, Carlsbad Variation
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 a6 8. cxd5
8… exd5+0.43
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Swiss, Carlsbad 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 8. cxd5, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… exd5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.43).
Top engine moves
- +0.438… exd5 9. Bd3 c6 10. h3 Ne4 11. Bf4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Re8 13. O-O
- +0.878… Nxd5 9. Nxd5 Bxg5 10. Nxc7 Rb8 11. d5 exd5 12. Nxd5 Nf6 13. Nc3
- +1.668… Nb6 9. dxe6 Bxe6 10. Bd3 Nbd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. O-O c6 13. Bb1
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Swiss, Carlsbad Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 a6 8. cxd5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… exd5 for Black, continuing 9. Bd3 c6 10. h3 Ne4 11. Bf4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Re8 13. O-O. White is slightly better (+0.43). The next best moves are 8… Nxd5 (+0.87) and 8… Nb6 (+1.66).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Swiss, Carlsbad Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.43: 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, Swiss, Carlsbad 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+).