Queen's Gambit
ECO D06 · 1. d4 d5 2. c4
The Queen's Gambit, 1.d4 d5 2.c4, offers a wing pawn to divert Black's d-pawn from the center. It is not a true gambit: Black cannot keep the c4 pawn without serious concessions. It is one of the oldest and most respected openings, and the hub of a whole family of defenses.
Plans for White
White wants a strong center with e4 or a minority attack on the queenside, rapid development with Nc3, Nf3, Bg5 or Bf4, and pressure along the c-file. If Black takes on c4, White regains the pawn and enjoys a central majority.
Plans for Black
Black chooses a defense: the solid Queen's Gambit Declined (2...e6), the Slav (2...c6), the Queen's Gambit Accepted (2...dxc4), the Semi-Slav, the Tarrasch, or sharper tries like the Albin Countergambit (2...e5) and the Chigorin (2...Nc6).
Typical pawn structures
Typical structures include the Carlsbad (after cxd5 exd5), isolated queen's pawn positions and the Slav's c6/d5 chain. Each defense gives its own middlegame plans.
Who it suits
Players who like classical, principled chess with clear strategic ideas; it scales from beginner to world championship level.
Common traps
The Elephant trap in the Declined: 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Nxd5?? Nxd5! 7.Bxd8 Bb4+ and Black wins a piece. In the Albin, the Lasker trap ends with an underpromotion to a knight on g1.