Openings 1.d4 d5: closed games
Queen’s Gambit Declined: Plans, Elephant Trap and Stats by Rating
2...e6 keeps the pawn on d5 and opens a path for the dark-squared bishop. It is one of the most trusted defenses in chess: solid, logical and easy to understand.
D30Queen's Gambit Declined
Games from this position (1600–1999): 108k
- 1.
- 2.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60% | 65k | ||
| 17% | 18k | ||
| 8% | 8,984 | ||
| 8% | 8,119 | ||
| 3% | 3,014 | ||
| 1% | 1,591 | ||
| 1% | 1,357 | ||
| 1% | 1,265 |
Plans for both sides
White
- Nc3, Bg5 (or Bf4), e3 and Nf3, then Bd3 and O-O.
- The Exchange (cxd5 exd5) gives a clear plan: the minority attack b4–b5.
- Do not fall for the Elephant trap: the d5 pawn is not always free.
Black
- Develop ...Nf6, ...Be7, ...O-O and ...Nbd7; the c8 bishop is the problem piece.
- Free the game with ...c5 or ...e5, or trade pieces with ...Ne4 or ...dxc4 and ...c5.
- The Tarrasch (...c5 early) and Ragozin (...Bb4) are more active choices.
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Queen’s Gambit Declined at each rating
How often the position after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 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 | 15k0.5% | 3.Nc342% | |
| 1200–1599 | 62k1.0% | 3.Nc351% | |
| 1600–1999 | 108k1.7% | 3.Nc360% | |
| 2000+ | 48k2.4% | 3.Nc363% | |
| All | 233k1.3% | 3.Nc357% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
The classical main line. Black aims for ...c5 or ...c6 and ...dxc4.
800 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 46%, 8% were drawn, Black won 47%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 Nbd7White fixes the structure and often plays the minority attack b4–b5.
15k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 51%, 7% were drawn, Black won 42%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5Black accepts an isolated pawn for free piece play. The Tarrasch has its own guide.
9,629 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 5% were drawn, Black won 46%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5A Nimzo-Indian idea inside the Queen’s Gambit: Black pins the c3 knight and often takes on c4.
17k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 52%, 6% were drawn, Black won 42%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bb4Black hits the center but takes back on d5 with the knight to avoid an isolated pawn.
227 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 38%, 12% were drawn, Black won 50%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5A modern alternative to Bg5. Black plays ...Be7, ...O-O and ...c5.
829 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 6% were drawn, Black won 46%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Bf4
Common traps
The Elephant trap
With the knight on d7, the f6 knight looks pinned and the d5 pawn looks free. 6.Nxd5?? Nxd5! 7.Bxd8 Bb4+ 8.Qd2 Bxd2+ 9.Kxd2 Kxd8 and Black is a piece up.
Fewer than 6 games in our data reached the end of this line.
Show on the board: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Nxd5 Nxd5 7.Bxd8 Bb4+ 8.Qd2 Bxd2+ 9.Kxd2 Kxd8Advertisement
At club level
At club level many White players take the d5 pawn too early. The Elephant trap below wins a piece for Black in one of the most natural-looking positions in chess.
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
- Slav and Semi-Slav
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6
- Queen’s Gambit Accepted
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4
- Colle System
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3