ECO D34 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Tarrasch Defense, Stoltz Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Rc1 b6

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

11. dxc5+0.46

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Tarrasch Defense, Stoltz Variation (D34), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Rc1 b6, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. dxc5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.46).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.4611. dxc5 bxc5 12. Ne1 Qa5 13. Nd3 Rad8 14. Nf4 h6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6
  2. +0.2611. Qa4 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 cxd4 13. Qxd4 h6 14. Bf4 Qd7 15. Rfd1 Rac8
  3. +0.1511. Ne5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Ng4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15. Bxd5 Rad8

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Tarrasch Defense, Stoltz Variation?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Rc1 b6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. dxc5 for White, continuing bxc5 12. Ne1 Qa5 13. Nd3 Rad8 14. Nf4 h6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6. White is slightly better (+0.46). The next best moves are 11. Qa4 (+0.26) and 11. Ne5 (+0.15).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Tarrasch Defense, Stoltz Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.46: 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: Tarrasch Defense, Stoltz Variation?
D34. 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+).