ECO D41 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Exchange Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4

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

6… Nxc3+0.40

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Exchange Variation (D41), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… Nxc3 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.40).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.406… Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Rc1
  2. +0.556… cxd4 7. Qxd4 Nc6 8. Bb5 Nxc3 9. Qxc3 Qb6 10. a4 Qc5 11. Ne5
  3. +0.816… Nf6 7. Be3 Bd7 8. Rc1 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Be7 10. e5 Nd5 11. Nxd5

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Exchange Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… Nxc3 for Black, continuing 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Rc1. White is slightly better (+0.40). The next best moves are 6… cxd4 (+0.55) and 6… Nf6 (+0.81).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Exchange Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.40: 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: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Exchange Variation?
D41. 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+).