The Queen’s Gambit, 1.d4 d5 2.c4, offers a pawn to deflect Black’s d-pawn from the centre. It is not really a gambit: the pawn can always be regained. White gets a lasting space advantage, a strong pawn centre and clear plans against every reply.
Key ideas
1The c4 pawn attacks d5; if Black takes, White recovers it with Bxc4 and better central control.
2Against the Declined (...e6), the pin Bg5 and the pressure on the c-file are the core plans.
3In the Slav (...c6) Black keeps the c8 bishop free, so White often plays e3 and Bxc4 with a4.
4Use the c-file: Rc1 and cxd5 exchanges often give White the better rook activity.
5The minority attack (b4–b5) is the key plan in the Exchange structure.
In Pro
Queen's Gambit is part of Pro, with every opening in the library and review dates on each line.
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Offer the c-pawn on move two and most of White's opening problems go away. Black either takes it, and gives up the centre for a pawn White gets back, or declines it, and spends the next ten moves finding a job for the c8 bishop. This page is the White side.
What you will learn
01Play the Orthodox set-up Nc3, Bg5, e3, Nf3 and Rc1 against ...e6 and know what the pin on f6 is for.
02Regain the pawn in the Accepted with Nf3, e3 and Bxc4 without hurrying.
03Answer the Slav 2...c6 with a4, and the Exchange structure with Qc2 and the minority attack.
The main line
The Orthodox main line runs 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.Rc1 c6. Black holds d5 with ...e6, develops the king side and castles, then brings the second knight to d7 so the f6 knight can be replaced if White trades on it.
4.Bg5 is the heart of the system. The pin is not meant to win anything; it makes ...Nf6 a piece Black has to keep defending and makes every ...c5 or ...dxc4 break cost a tempo. 7.Rc1 waits for the c-file to open. From here White chooses between Bd3 with a slow build and cxd5 followed by the minority attack.
Beginners go wrong by chasing the gambit pawn. In the Accepted, Nf3, e3 and Bxc4 get it back by themselves; Qa4+ is not needed. The other slip is trading on d5 too early against ...e6, which frees the c8 bishop, the piece Black would rather you left shut in.
How to practise it
Learn the Orthodox line first; it teaches the pin and the rook on c1 that the other lines reuse. Drill the seven White moves until the order Nc3, Bg5, e3, Nf3, Rc1 is automatic. Then take the Accepted line, where the recapture on c4 must come without hesitation. The Slav and Exchange lines return on their review dates.