Chess opening · ECO D20
Queen's Gambit Accepted
In the Queen's Gambit Accepted, Black captures on c4 and lets White's d-pawn stand alone in the center for a few moves. Black is not planning to keep the extra pawn. The capture clears d5 and buys time to develop and then challenge d4 with the c-pawn or the e-pawn. White chooses between the steady e3 and Bxc4 and the broader e4, which grabs central space right away.
- Rank by weighted share
- #41 of 159
- Material
- Black +1
Key moves
1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4
- 2... dxc4The d-pawn leaves the center to take a wing pawn. White's d4 pawn no longer faces a black pawn, and the e4 square is free for White's e-pawn. In return Black's c8 bishop gets an open diagonal, and recovering c4 will cost White a move or two.
Striking at d4 with ...c5
Once White has recaptured on c4, Black challenges d4 with ...c5. If the pawns are traded and White ends up with a pawn on d4 that has no c-pawn or e-pawn beside it, the game revolves around an isolated d-pawn. White gets free piece play and the e5 square as a post for a knight.
Black's plan against that pawn is easy to state: blockade it with a piece on d5, trade minor pieces, and go after the pawn once the attacking chances have thinned out.
Grabbing the center with e4
3.e4 builds a pawn pair on d4 and e4 at once. Black usually hits that center immediately, with ...e5, ...Nf6 or ...c5, before White can finish development and take back c4 with the bishop.
Recovering the pawn with Bxc4
3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6
White takes the pawn back with the bishop and castles. Black develops behind the e6 pawn and challenges d4 with ...c5, and ...a6 prepares ...b5, gaining queenside space with tempo against the c4 bishop.
Top replies by rating
e3 leads under 1200, then Nc3 takes the top spot from 1400 up. The direct e4 holds third place up to 1799, and Nf3 replaces it from 1800 before reaching second at 2000 and up.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | e3 36% | Nc3 29% | e4 20% |
| 1200–1399 | e3 33% | Nc3 33% | e4 20% |
| 1400–1599 | Nc3 34% | e3 31% | e4 20% |
| 1600–1799 | Nc3 41% | e3 28% | e4 17% |
| 1800–1999 | Nc3 42% | e3 25% | Nf3 16% |
| 2000 and up | Nc3 35% | Nf3 29% | e3 20% |
Questions
Can Black hold on to the c4 pawn?
Trying is risky. After e3 b5 a4 c6 axb5 cxb5, nothing stands between f3 and the rook in the corner. Qf3 attacks that rook, and a knight on c6 or a bishop on b7 put in the way can simply be captured.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.