ECO D40 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5

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

5. cxd5+0.18

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

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense (D40), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. cxd5 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.18).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.185. cxd5 cxd4 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. e4 Nc6 8. Bb5 dxe4 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8
  2. +0.185. e3 a6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Be2 c4 8. Ne5 b5 9. O-O Bb7
  3. +0.165. Bg5 cxd4 6. Nxd4 dxc4 7. e3 Bd7 8. Bxc4 Be7 9. Qb3 Nc6

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5
  • 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 e6
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. g3
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2
  • 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. a3 cxd4 7. exd4 Bd6

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. cxd5 for White, continuing cxd4 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. e4 Nc6 8. Bb5 dxe4 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8. The position is roughly equal (+0.18). The next best moves are 5. e3 (+0.18) and 5. Bg5 (+0.16).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.18: 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: Semi-Tarrasch Defense?
D40. 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+).