Chess opening · ECO D06
Queen's Gambit
After 1.d4 d5, the Queen's Gambit offers a wing pawn with 2.c4. If Black takes it, the d5 pawn leaves the center and White can play e4 with a broad pair of central pawns. Black can also keep the pawn on d5 with ...e6 or ...c6, or answer with a sharper reply like the Albin Countergambit.
- Rank by weighted share
- #9 of 159
Key moves
1. d4 d5 2. c4
- 2. c4The c-pawn attacks d5 from the side. White is not trying to hold the pawn so much as to pull Black's d-pawn off its central post, which would leave White free to occupy the middle with e4.
The five branches after 2.c4
Taking with 2...dxc4 is the Queen's Gambit Accepted. Black gives up the center for a moment and plans to hit back with ...c5 or ...e5. The Queen's Gambit Declined, 2...e6, supports d5 with a pawn but shuts in the c8 bishop.
The Slav, 2...c6, also holds d5 and keeps the bishop free to come out to f5 or g4. Then there are two other tries: 2...Nf6, the Marshall Defense, and 2...e5, the Albin Countergambit.
Winning back the c4 pawn
After 2...dxc4, the simplest plan is 3.e3 followed by Bxc4. The bishop recaptures and lands on an active diagonal toward f7. Black has to be careful about holding the pawn with ...b5: after 3.e3 b5 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5 6.Qf3 the long light diagonal is open and the queen hits the rook on a8.
Top replies by rating
dxc4 leads every band up to 1599. Above that, e6 and c6 take over, and at 2000 and up c6 tops the table while dxc4 drops to a small share.
Questions
Does White really give up a pawn?
Only for a short time in most lines. The c4 pawn is hard for Black to keep, so the word gambit here describes the offer, not a lasting material deficit.
Why not just take the pawn and keep it?
Holding it usually needs ...b5, which loosens Black's queenside and lets a4 open lines there. Black usually takes on c4 planning to give the pawn back and use the time to develop.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.