ECO D37 · Queen's Gambit Declined

Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights, Vienna Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4

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

5. e4+0.36

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights, Vienna Variation (D37), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. e4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.36).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.365. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qa5 9. Bd2 Qc5
  2. +0.275. e3 a6 6. a4 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O cxd4 9. exd4 Be7
  3. +0.165. Qa4+ c6 6. Qxc4 b5 7. Qd3 Ba6 8. Ne4 Nxe4 9. Qxe4 Bb7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights, Vienna Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. e4 for White, continuing Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qa5 9. Bd2 Qc5. White is slightly better (+0.36). The next best moves are 5. e3 (+0.27) and 5. Qa4+ (+0.16).
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights, Vienna Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.36: 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: Three Knights, Vienna Variation?
D37. 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+).