Openings 1.d4 d5: closed games
Queen’s Gambit Accepted: Main Lines, Traps and Stats by Rating
2...dxc4 takes the pawn, not to keep it, but to get free development while White spends a move winning it back. Black then hits the center with ...c5 or ...e5.
D20Queen's Gambit Accepted
Games from this position (1600–1999): 53k
- 1.
- 2.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39% | 21k | ||
| 24% | 13k | ||
| 24% | 13k | ||
| 10% | 5,254 | ||
| 2% | 870 | ||
| 0.6% | 293 | ||
| 0.5% | 266 |
Plans for both sides
White
- 3.e4 grabs the full center; 3.e3 and 3.Nf3 are calmer.
- Take the pawn back with Bxc4 and use your central majority.
- If Black tries to hold the pawn with ...b5, a4 breaks the chain.
Black
- Do not try to keep the pawn; develop with ...Nf6, ...e6, ...c5 and ...a6.
- Against 3.e4, strike with ...e5 or ...Nf6 and ...c5.
- An isolated d-pawn for White is a common result; blockade it on d5.
Advertisement
Queen’s Gambit Accepted at each rating
How often the position after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 31k1.0% | 3.e439% | |
| 1200–1599 | 66k1.1% | 3.e433% | |
| 1600–1999 | 53k0.8% | 3.Nc339% | |
| 2000+ | 11k0.5% | 3.Nc328% | |
| All | 160k0.9% | 3.Nc333% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
Black fights back in the center at once. Sharp but sound.
821 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 53%, 6% were drawn, Black won 41%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4Black plays ...c5 and ...a6, often reaching an isolated-pawn position.
114 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 40%, 14% were drawn, Black won 46%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.O-O a6A direct way for Black to free the game.
4,527 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 49%, 6% were drawn, Black won 45%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 e5
Common traps
Holding the pawn with 3...b5?
After 3...b5 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5, 6.Qf3! hits the rook on a8 along the long diagonal and Black loses material. Do not defend c4 with pawns.
In our data, the last move of this line was played in 2,074 games.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 b5 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5 6.Qf3Advertisement
At club level
A common club mistake is 3...b5 to protect the c4 pawn. It does not work, as the line below shows, and Black ends up worse.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- Queen’s Pawn Game: 1.d4 d5
1.d4 d5
- Queen’s Gambit
1.d4 d5 2.c4
- London System
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4
- Queen’s Gambit Declined
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6
- Slav and Semi-Slav
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
- Colle System
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3