ECO D50 · Queen's Gambit Declined

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

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 c5 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 e5 7. Ndb5 a6 8. Qa4

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

8… Bd7−0.13

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

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Krause Variation (D50), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 c5 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 e5 7. Ndb5 a6 8. Qa4, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… Bd7 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.13).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.138… Bd7 9. cxd5 Bxb5 10. Nxb5 axb5 11. Qxa8 Bb4+ 12. Bd2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2
  2. +1.688… axb5 9. Qxa8 d4 10. O-O-O Bd6 11. Nxb5 O-O 12. e3 Na6 13. exd4
  3. +2.348… Nbd7 9. Nxd5 axb5 10. Qxa8 Bd6 11. e3 O-O 12. Rd1 bxc4 13. Bxc4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Krause Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 c5 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 e5 7. Ndb5 a6 8. Qa4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… Bd7 for Black, continuing 9. cxd5 Bxb5 10. Nxb5 axb5 11. Qxa8 Bb4+ 12. Bd2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2. The position is roughly equal (−0.13). The next best moves are 8… axb5 (+1.68) and 8… Nbd7 (+2.34).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Krause Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.13: 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, Krause 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+).