Chess opening · ECO D35
Queen's Gambit Declined: Normal Defense
With 3...Nf6, Black adds a second defender to d5 and develops toward a quick kingside castle. The pawns on d5 and e6 hold the center, but they also shut the bishop on c8 behind its own pawn. Most of the play after this move turns on two questions: whether White pins the f6 knight with Bg5, and whether White trades on d5 to fix the pawn structure.
- Rank by weighted share
- #85 of 159
Key moves
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6
- 2... e6Black declines the pawn and props up d5 with e6. The center stays firm, yet the light-squared bishop on c8 now has no open diagonal, and freeing it becomes a long-term task for Black.
- 3... Nf6The knight joins the defense of d5 and leaves g8, so only the f8 bishop still stands between Black and castling. It also becomes the natural target of Bg5, since the knight on f6 is the piece that keeps White's e4 push in check.
The pin with Bg5
Bg5 lines the bishop up with the knight on f6 and the queen on d8. Black usually breaks the pin with ...Be7, castles, and then decides between ...Nbd7 with a slow buildup or ...h6 to ask the bishop what it wants.
The pin matters because the f6 knight is the main guard of d5 and e4. If it is traded off, White can push e4 or pile up on d5 with less resistance.
Trading on d5: the Carlsbad structure
When White plays cxd5 and Black recaptures with the e-pawn, the c8 bishop suddenly sees f5 and g4. In return, White gets a fixed target. With pawns on c6 and d5 for Black, White often pushes b4 and b5 to attack c6, a plan known as the minority attack, while Black looks for play on the kingside or for an outpost on e4.
The trap on d5 after 4...Nbd7
4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Nxd5 Nxd5 7. Bxd8 Bb4+ 8. Qd2 Bxd2+ 9. Kxd2 Kxd8
The f6 knight looks pinned, so taking on d5 seems free. It is not: Black gives up the queen, checks with the bishop, and wins White's queen back. After the dust settles Black has an extra knight for a pawn. The whole trick rests on the bishop check from b4 once White has taken the queen.
Top replies by rating
Nf3 leads among players under 1200, while Bg5 tops every band from 1200 up. At 2000 and up, cxd5 climbs into second place, pointing toward the Exchange structure.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | Nf3 55% | Bg5 30% | e3 16% |
| 1200–1399 | Bg5 28% | Nf3 24% | e3 16% |
| 1400–1599 | Bg5 32% | Nf3 25% | e3 16% |
| 1600–1799 | Bg5 36% | Nf3 26% | e3 15% |
| 1800–1999 | Bg5 37% | Nf3 25% | e3 15% |
| 2000 and up | Bg5 37% | cxd5 25% | Nf3 24% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.