The Queen's Gambit Declined meets 1. 2. with : you leave the c4 pawn alone and back up d5 with your e-pawn. If your opponent trades on d5, you take back with that pawn and keep a foothold in the centre. The cost is your c8 bishop, stuck until its diagonal opens. Rated 900 to 1700, you score 46% with it (N = 684,723 Lichess games, September 2026).
Lichess games from September 2026 (30,577,162 rated 900 to 1700) and 31,791 over-the-board games rated 2300+ from the last 12 months. Data updated: October 14, 2026.
82 named lines in this family; 6 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
After , strong players go 3. in 61 games out of 100 and answer in 57. Once the exchange 4. happens, the gap with your level is plain to see. Strong players pin your knight with 5. in 89 games in 100 online and 98 over the board; your opponents do it in only 43, and another 28 choose 5.. You can also reach the position by a different route: 1 game in 10 starts 1. 2. . The opening gets more popular as ratings climb, from 1.5 games in 100 at 900 to 1100 up to 2.8 at 1500 to 1700.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43.3% | 53.2% | 89.4% | 97.8% | |
| 27.5% | 51.1% | 4.6% | no data | |
| 9.4% | 50.0% | 0.3% | no data | |
| 7.9% | 51.9% | 3.6% | 2.2% | |
| 5.5% | 51.9% | 0.8% | no data | |
| 2.5% | 51.9% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 1.3% | no data |
The strong players' line runs 3. 4. 5. 6. . Everything revolves around d5: your opponent hits it with the c-pawn and with pieces, and you always keep a pawn there. You end up with pawns on c6 and d5 against their d4 pawn, a half-open e-file for you and a half-open c-file for them.
is what lets you decline. The e6 pawn guards d5, so if your opponent trades, you recapture with that pawn and still have one in the centre. The price is your c8 bishop: with pawns on b7 and e6 it can only reach d7. That is why the exchange 4. does you no harm. The e6 pawn leaves and the bishop's diagonal opens all the way to h3.
3. adds a second attacker on d5. brings a third defender alongside the e6 pawn and the queen. After the exchange, d5 is held by the knight and the queen, and 5. pins that knight to your queen. gives d5 a defender that does not rely on the knight, and it also opens your queen's diagonal towards b6 and a5. 6. frees the f1 bishop. steps between the g5 bishop and your queen, breaks the pin and gets you ready to castle short. At your level both sides castle short in 52 games out of 100.
Move order matters. The bishop goes to e7 before you push your h-pawn: with the bishop on e7, if your opponent takes on f6, you recapture with the bishop and your pawns stay intact. Kicking the g5 bishop while your knight is still pinned costs you your pawn structure, as the mistakes section shows.
At your level the line often changes course after the exchange: more than half your opponents skip 5.. Against 5. there is no pin, so your f6 knight guards d5 freely and the c8 bishop already has a clear path to f5. The idea stays the same: a solid pawn on d5 with your pieces behind it.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 42,635 | 61.0% | |
| 28,138 | 56.6% | |
| 23,720 | 47.9% | |
| 11,326 | 91.4% | |
| 11,429 | 89.8% | |
| 10,154 | 47.6% | |
| 4,829 | 84.5% | |
| 3,964 | 40.1% |
A mistake. After 3. 4., hits d4 but blocks your c-pawn, which can no longer reach c5. Play goes 5. 6. 7. : nothing guarded b5, and your extra pawn is gone. Play instead. 16 players in 100 choose the knight, but at your level it costs little: you score 41.1 against 43.4.
16 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 41.1%; scores 43.4%.
An inaccuracy. After 3. 4., kicks the bishop while your knight is still pinned to the queen. Then 5. 6. 7. : the knight that guarded d5 is gone, you have doubled f-pawns, and your h-pawn is isolated. Play , which breaks the pin. 7 players in 100 choose it; you score 44.1 against 47.4.
7 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 44.1%; scores 47.4%.
A mistake that rarely gets punished at your level: you score 42.2 against 43.5. After 3. 4., does nothing for the c4 pawn. In the line 5. 6. 7. , the c3 knight grabs b5, which had no protection. Play , so the a6 pawn can support b5. 11 players in 100 choose the knight move.
11 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.5 pawns of advantage. It scores 42.2%; scores 43.5%.
An inaccuracy you will barely feel at your level: you score 42.3 against 43.4. After 3. 4., does not guard c4. Then 5. 6. 7. : your opponent wins the pawn back and keeps both centre pawns. Play , hitting d4. 5 players in 100 choose it.
5 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1 pawn of advantage. It scores 42.3%; scores 43.4%.
A blunder, and a trap. After 3. 4., puts the bishop within reach of the b-pawn. Then 5. 6. 7. : you end up a bishop down. Retreating to b6 fails too, as the c4 pawn hits it from c5. Play . 6 players in 100 fall for it; you score 25.8 against 47.8.
6 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 6 pawns of advantage. It scores 25.8%; scores 47.8%.
An inaccuracy, but an expensive one at your level: you score 42.6 against 47.2. After 3. 4., nothing attacks your bishop, yet gives it up for the knight. After 5. 6. 7. , the c3 pawn reinforces d4 and your opponent keeps the bishop pair. Play . 36 players in 100 make the swap.
36 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.6 pawns of advantage. It scores 42.6%; scores 47.2%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 355,387 | ||
| Not castled | 83,581 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 82,850 |
| Not castled | 65,702 | |
| 38,296 | ||
| 24,066 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 1,623 | ||
| Not castled | 224 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 117 |
| 107 | ||
| Not castled | 93 | |
| 61 |
1. 2.
160,922 amateur games · 5 over the board
instead of : the knight guards d5, with no pawn behind it.
1. 2.
33,821 amateur games · 12 over the board
offers a pawn: e5 is attacked by d4 and has no defender. You score 48 in 100.
1. 2. 3. 4.
22,146 amateur games · 610 over the board
4. fixes your pawn on d5 and opens the diagonal for your c8 bishop.
1. 2.
20,494 amateur games · 14 over the board
hits d4 straight away and leaves your c8 bishop's diagonal open.
1. 2. 3. 4.
10,355 amateur games · 89 over the board
hits d4 while the e6 pawn and the f6 knight hold d5.
1. 2. · 68,702 amateur games · 22 over the board
puts the knight on c6, the square your c-pawn would need to support d5.
1. 2. · 56,057 amateur games · 5 over the board
gets the c8 bishop out before an e6 pawn can shut it in.
1. 2. 3. · 45,292 amateur games · 99 over the board
3. adds a second attacker on d5 alongside the c4 pawn.
1. 2. 3. · 24,995 amateur games · 1 over the board
brings a third defender to d5, next to the e6 pawn and the queen.
1. 2. 3. 4. · 24,106 amateur games · 287 over the board
With your knight already on f6, pins the c3 knight to the king.
1. 2. 3. 4. · 22,477 amateur games · 65 over the board
4. pins your f6 knight to the queen; breaks the pin.
1. 2. 3. 4. · 13,574 amateur games · 144 over the board
4. develops the c1 bishop without pinning your f6 knight. You score 47 in 100.
1. 2. 3. 4. · 13,283 amateur games · 197 over the board
With 3. and 4., your opponent brings out both knights before choosing a square for the c1 bishop.
1. 2. 3. 4. · 11,776 amateur games · 8 over the board
hits d4; after 4. , only your queen guards d5.
1. 2. 3. 4. · 4,714 amateur games · 18 over the board
4. pins your f6 knight before the b1 knight has even moved.
1. 2. 3. 4. · 3,420 amateur games · 7 over the board
grabs the pawn and gives up d5, leaving only your knight watching e4.
1. 2. 3. 4. · D30
3,021 amateur games · White's score: 56.4%
1. 2. 3. · D31
2,791 amateur games · White's score: 52.8%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · D37
2,348 amateur games · White's score: 56.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D54
1,860 amateur games · White's score: 56.1%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D60
1,860 amateur games · White's score: 51.1%
1. 2. 3. · D06
1,809 amateur games · White's score: 48.9%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D55
1,686 amateur games · White's score: 56.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. · D50
1,003 amateur games · White's score: 49.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. · D30
987 amateur games · White's score: 56.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. · D37
974 amateur games · White's score: 51.2%
1. 2. 3. · D31
930 amateur games · White's score: 55.5%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · D50
778 amateur games · White's score: 48.1%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D60
674 amateur games · White's score: 50.1%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · D53
590 amateur games · White's score: 53.6%
1. 2. 3. · D31
572 amateur games · White's score: 53.6%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D52
464 amateur games · White's score: 44.5%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D58
421 amateur games · White's score: 48.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · D51
310 amateur games · White's score: 57.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D50
273 amateur games · White's score: 47.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D55
265 amateur games · White's score: 50.6%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D51
205 amateur games · White's score: 49.3%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D37
148 amateur games · White's score: 47.6%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D63
147 amateur games · White's score: 53.1%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D61
119 amateur games · White's score: 50.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · D66
95 amateur games · White's score: 49.5%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D38
81 amateur games · White's score: 50.6%
1. 2. · D06
79 amateur games · White's score: 69.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · D59
73 amateur games · White's score: 40.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · D58
67 amateur games · White's score: 57.5%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D51
64 amateur games · White's score: 53.1%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D52
57 amateur games · White's score: 45.6%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. · D57
53 amateur games · White's score: 55.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D52
32 amateur games · White's score: 37.5%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · D64
25 amateur games · White's score: 52.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D63
17 amateur games · White's score: 67.6%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · D30
17 amateur games · White's score: 52.9%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · D52
16 amateur games · White's score: 34.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · D62
14 amateur games · White's score: 71.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D30
14 amateur games · White's score: 42.9%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · D66
13 amateur games · White's score: 34.6%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D60
12 amateur games · White's score: 50.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · D56
11 amateur games · White's score: 59.1%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D37
6 amateur games · White's score: 66.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · D63
6 amateur games · White's score: 66.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · D63
6 amateur games · White's score: 91.7%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · D55
6 amateur games · White's score: 75.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D31
5 amateur games · White's score: 60.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · D30
4 amateur games · White's score: 25.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. · D55
2 amateur games · White's score: 100.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D52
2 amateur games · White's score: 50.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · D31
2 amateur games · White's score: 50.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. · D68
2 amateur games · White's score: 0.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D31
2 amateur games · White's score: 50.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. · D57
1 amateur game · White's score: 0.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · D67
1 amateur game · White's score: 0.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · D50
1 amateur game · White's score: 100.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D51
1 amateur game · White's score: 100.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · D52
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. · D57
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. · D56
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. · D67
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. · D63
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. · D67
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D31
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. · D53
It is the reply to 1. 2.. You don't take the c4 pawn. You back up d5 with your e-pawn and, if your opponent trades, you recapture with it. It turns up in 2 games out of 100 between 900 and 1700, and as Black you score 46 in 100. Strong online players reach 47.
It is a fight over d5. Against 3., play , and if your opponent trades with 4., recapture , which also frees your c8 bishop. Against the pin 5., support d5 with and break the pin with before castling. That is the strong players' line.
It holds up well: you score about 46 in 100 in every rating band from 900 to 1700, close to the 47 that strong online players get. The real danger is a single bishop move. After 3. 4., retreating with loses the piece to 5.; take on c3 with instead.