ECO D40 · Queen's Gambit Declined

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

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. Bg5

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

5… dxc4+0.22

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

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Pillsbury Variation (D40), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. Bg5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… dxc4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.22).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.225… dxc4 6. e3 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Bxc4 Be7 9. O-O Nc6 10. Nf3
  2. +0.225… cxd4 6. Nxd4 dxc4 7. e3 Bd7 8. Bxc4 Be7 9. O-O Nc6 10. Nf3
  3. +0.495… Be7 6. dxc5 h6 7. Bxf6 Bxf6 8. cxd5 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 exd5 10. e3

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Pillsbury Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. Bg5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… dxc4 for Black, continuing 6. e3 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Bxc4 Be7 9. O-O Nc6 10. Nf3. The position is roughly equal (+0.22). The next best moves are 5… cxd4 (+0.22) and 5… Be7 (+0.49).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Pillsbury Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.22: 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, Pillsbury Variation?
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+).