ECO D50 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Pseudo-Tarrasch Variation, Canal Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 c5 5. cxd5 Qb6

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

6. Bxf6+0.79

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Pseudo-Tarrasch Variation, Canal Variation (D50), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 c5 5. cxd5 Qb6, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Bxf6 for White. White is slightly better (+0.79).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.796. Bxf6 Qxb2 7. Rc1 gxf6 8. e3 cxd4 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Nxd7
  2. +0.336. dxe6 cxd4 7. exf7+ Kxf7 8. Na4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Qb5
  3. +0.326. Nf3 cxd4 7. Bxf6 gxf6 8. Qxd4 Bc5 9. Qxf6 Bxf2+ 10. Kd1 O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Pseudo-Tarrasch Variation, Canal Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 c5 5. cxd5 Qb6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Bxf6 for White, continuing Qxb2 7. Rc1 gxf6 8. e3 cxd4 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Nxd7. White is slightly better (+0.79). The next best moves are 6. dxe6 (+0.33) and 6. Nf3 (+0.32).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Pseudo-Tarrasch Variation, Canal Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.79: 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: Pseudo-Tarrasch Variation, Canal Variation?
D50. 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+).