Queen's Gambit

The Queen's Gambit is one of the oldest known openings in chess. It was mentioned in the Göttingen manuscript of 1490 and was later analyzed by Gioachino Greco in the 17th century. In the 18th century, it was recommended by Philipp Stamma of Aleppo and is sometimes known as the Aleppo Gambit in his honor.{{Cite book |title=The Works of Damiano, Ruy-Lopez, and Salvio on the Game of Chess |last=Sarratt |first=J. H. |publisher=T. Boosey, (the New York Public Library) (Digitized) |date=27 Jan 2006 |isbn=9781145601765 }} During the early period of modern chess, queen pawn openings were not in fashion, and the Queen's Gambit did not become commonplace until the 1873 tournament in Vienna.{{citation|last=Korn|first=Walter|title=Modern Chess Openings|edition=12th|year=1982|publisher=David McKay|page=263}}

As Wilhelm Steinitz and Siegbert Tarrasch developed chess theory and increased the appreciation of {{chessgloss|positional play}}, the Queen's Gambit grew more popular, reaching its zenith in the 1920s and 1930s, and it was played in all but 2 of 34 games in the 1927 World Championship match between José Raúl Capablanca and Alexander Alekhine.

After the resumption of international chess activity following World War II, it was less frequently seen as many players moved away from symmetrical openings, tending to use an Indian Defence to combat queen pawn openings; however, it is still frequently played.

With 2.c4, White threatens to exchange a wing pawn (the c-pawn) for a center pawn (Black's d-pawn) in order to dominate the {{chessgloss|center}} with e2–e4. Black cannot hold the pawn, for example: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 b5{{chesspunc|?}} (Black tries to guard their pawn but should pursue {{chessgloss|development}} with 3...Nf6 or 3...e5) 4.a4 c6? 5.axb5 cxb5{{chesspunc|??}} 6.Qf3{{chesspunc|!}} winning a piece.

The Queen's Gambit is divided into two major categories based on Black's response: the Queen's Gambit Accepted (QGA) and the Queen's Gambit Declined (QGD). In the QGA, Black plays 2...dxc4, temporarily giving up the center to obtain freer development. In the QGD, Black usually plays to hold d5. Frequently Black will be cramped, but Black aims to exchange pieces and use {{chessgloss|pawn breaks}} at c5 and e5 to free Black's game.

Technically, any Black response other than 2...dxc4 (or another line with an early ...dxc4 that transposes into the QGA) is a Queen's Gambit Declined, but the Slav, Albin Countergambit, and Chigorin Defense are generally treated separately. There are so many QGD lines after 2...e6 that many of them are distinctive enough to warrant separate treatment. The Orthodox Defense and the Tarrasch Defense are two important examples. (See Queen's Gambit Declined for more.)

After 1.d4 d5 2.c4:

• 2...e6 – Queen's Gambit Declined or QGD (ECO D30–D69). This is the main line, with many variations.
• 2...dxc4 – Queen's Gambit Accepted or QGA (D20–D29). Less popular than the Queen's Gambit Declined, it nevertheless has a solid reputation.
• 2...c6 – Slav Defense (D10–D19). This is a solid response, although many variations are very tactical. If Black plays both ...c6 and ...e6 (in either order), the opening takes characteristics of both the Slav and the Orthodox Defense and is classified as a Semi-Slav Defense.
• 2...e5 – Albin Countergambit (D08–D09), a sharp attempt by Black to gain the initiative. It is uncommon in top-level chess but can be a dangerous weapon in club play.
• 2...Nc6 – Chigorin Defense (D07) The Chigorin Defense takes the game away from the normal positional channels of the QGD and has been favored by Alexander Morozevich at the top level; it appears to be {{chessgloss|playable}} for Black.
• 2...Bf5{{chesspunc|!?}} – Baltic Defense (D06), an offbeat but playable line.
• 2...c5 – Symmetrical Defense (D06). This is rarely played; although it has not been definitely refuted, the play seems to favor White.
• 2...Nf6{{chesspunc|?!}} – Marshall Defense (D06), named after Frank Marshall, who first devised the move, he briefly played it in the 1920s before abandoning it.
• 2...g6?! – Alekhine idea{{cite book |last1=Benjamin |first1=Joel |author-link1=Joel Benjamin |last2=Schiller |first2=Eric |author-link2=Eric Schiller |title=Unorthodox Openings |publisher=Macmillan Publishing Company |year=1987 |page=97 |quote=Queen's Gambit Declined: Alekhine Idea 1 d4 d5 2 c4 g6|isbn=0-02-016590-0}} (D06). White can gain the advantage by 3.cxd5 Qxd5 (3...Nf6 4.Qa4 {{chesspunc|+/−}}) 4.Nc3 Qa5 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Bd2 c6 7.e4 Qb6 8.Bc4{{chesspunc|!}} Bxd4 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 10.Qb3 Qg7 11.0-0 +/− (Minev).{{cite book |editor-last=Matanović |editor-first=Aleksandar |editor-link=Aleksandar Matanović |title=Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings |publisher=Chess Informant |location=Yugoslavia |volume=D |edition=2nd |year=1987 |page=44 |isbn=86-7297-008-X |title-link=Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings }}

If White chooses to fianchetto the {{chessgloss|king's bishop}}, the game transposes into the Catalan Opening.

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book

| author=Marović, Dražen

| author-link=Dražen Marović

| year=1992

| title=Play the Queen's Gambit

| publisher=Cadogan Books

| isbn=1-85744-016-1}}

• {{cite book

| author=Ward, Chris

| title=Play The Queen's Gambit

| publisher=Everyman Chess

| year=2006

| isbn=1-85744-411-6| author-link=Chris Ward (chess player) }}

• {{cite book

| author=Schandorff, Lars

| year=2009

| title=Playing the Queen's Gambit: A Grandmaster Guide

| publisher=Quality Chess

| isbn=978-1-906552-18-3}}

• {{cite book

| author=Komarov, Dmitry

| author2=Djuric, Stefan |author3=Pantaleoni, Claudio

| title=Chess Opening Essentials, Vol. 2: 1.d4 d5 / 1.d4 various / Queen's Gambits

| publisher=New In Chess

| year=2009

| isbn=978-90-5691-269-7}}

• Lemos, Damian. (2015). The Queen's Gambit. Everyman Chess. {{ISBN|978-1781942604}}. OCLC 921240674.

{{Wikibooks|Chess Opening Theory|1. d4/1...d5/2. c4|Queen's Gambit}}

• [http://www.thechesswebsite.com/queens-gambit/ "Queen's Gambit"] video and explanation, TheChessWebsite.com
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgVzgG1mQTE "Queen's Gambit Accepted Traps"] video and explanation, Chessworld.net

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Category:15th century in chess

Category:Chess openings