Chess Drills
Queen's Gambit: clear plans and three classic traps
In the Queen's Gambit, White starts with the d-pawn and, after Black answers with the d-pawn too, offers a second pawn with 2.c4. It is not a real sacrifice: if Black takes it, you can usually win it back easily and keep a big centre.
The idea is simple. Your c-pawn attacks Black's pawn on d5, the pawn that holds Black's centre together. Whatever Black does, you get space and easy development. If you prefer a fixed setup with less to learn, the London System is a calmer way to start with the d-pawn.
Good fit for: Players who want a classical opening that is played at every level, from club games to world championships.
Drill these 6 lines with spaced repetition: a few minutes a day, and the moves stick.
Key ideas
- Keep up the pressure on d5. Your c-pawn, your knight on c3 and often your bishop on g5 all work against Black's pawn on d5, the heart of Black's position. The bishop on g5 pins the knight on f6: it can't move without exposing the queen behind it.
- The pawn comes back. If Black takes your pawn on c4, don't panic and don't chase it with your queen. Push your e-pawn one square and take back with the bishop. You get a free centre and a developed bishop.
- The minority attack. When the pawns on d5 are exchanged, the pawn structure is fixed. You can then push your b-pawn up the board (b4 and b5), two pawns against Black's three, to leave Black with a weak pawn on the queenside.
- Know Black's answers. Black has several solid replies: hold d5 with the e-pawn (Declined), take the pawn (Accepted), hold d5 with the c-pawn (Slav), or hit back with the e-pawn (Albin). Each needs a slightly different plan.
The main lines
Declined: Black holds d5 with the e-pawn
Black keeps the pawn on d5 by pushing the e-pawn one square. You bring out your pieces and put a rook on the c-file. Black's position is solid but a little cramped.
- Your plan: knight to c3, bishop to g5 (pinning the knight on f6), pawn to e3, knight to f3, then a rook to c1.
- Why the rook on c1? The c-file often opens up later, and then your rook is already there.
- Good to know: Black's light-squared bishop (the one on c8) is stuck behind the pawn on e6. Try to keep it locked in.
- Watch out: the pawn on d5 is not as weak as it looks. See the Elephant Trap below.
Exchange line: you take on d5 straight away
You exchange your c-pawn for Black's d-pawn at once, and Black takes back with the e-pawn. Now the pawns are fixed, and that makes the plans very clear.
- Your plan: bishop to g5 and d3, queen to c2, then castle on the kingside and start the minority attack with the b-pawn.
- Another plan: castle on the queenside instead, then push pawns to f3 and e4 to attack in the centre.
- Why exchange so early? You choose the type of position, and Black has fewer ways to make it complicated.
Accepted: Black takes the pawn
Black takes your pawn on c4 but can't keep it. You bring out your knight, push the e-pawn one square and take back with the bishop. Black then hits back at your centre with the c-pawn and prepares to gain space on the queenside.
- Your plan: knight to f3, pawn to e3, bishop takes on c4, then castle.
- Why not win the pawn back at once? There is no hurry. Develop first, and the pawn on c4 falls by itself.
- Watch out: Black often plays a6 and then b5 to chase your bishop and gain space.
- Good to know: if Black tries to hold the extra pawn with ...b5 too early, see the first trap below.
Slav: Black holds d5 with the c-pawn
Black protects d5 with the c-pawn instead of the e-pawn, so the light-squared bishop on c8 stays free. Later Black takes on c4 and brings the bishop out to f5.
- Your plan: push your a-pawn to a4, then pawn to e3 and take back on c4 with the bishop.
- Why a4? It stops Black from defending the extra pawn with ...b5.
- Good to know: the same idea, a pawn on c6 to free the bishop, appears in the Caro-Kann against 1.e4.
Semi-Slav: Black uses both the c-pawn and the e-pawn
Black puts pawns on c6 and e6. When your bishop comes to d3, Black takes on c4, and after your bishop takes back, Black chases it with the b-pawn to gain space. The positions are rich and sharp.
- Your plan: knights to c3 and f3, pawn to e3, bishop to d3, and move the bishop back to d3 when Black's b-pawn chases it.
- Why does Black take on c4 just then? Your bishop has to move a second time, so Black wins a little time.
- Good to know: both sides have clear plans here, and the player who knows them better usually does well.
Albin Countergambit: Black gives a pawn back
Black pushes the e-pawn two squares and gives it away. When you take, Black's d-pawn moves to d4 and sits like a wedge in your position. The safe answer is to develop calmly and win the d4-pawn later.
- Your plan: knight to f3, then a fianchetto (bishop on the long diagonal after g3 and Bg2), and the other knight to d2.
- Why the fianchetto? From g2 the bishop looks along the long diagonal towards Black's queenside, and your king is safe after castling.
- Watch out: don't push your e-pawn to e3 early. See the Lasker Trap below.
Traps and mistakes to avoid
Trying to keep the pawn with ...b5
Black takes your pawn on c4 and then tries to hold on to it with the b-pawn. You attack the pawns with your a-pawn, open the a-file, and then bring your queen to f3. Now the queen attacks the rook on a8 along the long diagonal, and Black loses material.
The Elephant Trap (a trap for you)
In the Declined, the pawn on d5 seems to hang after the exchange on d5. But if your knight takes it, Black's knight takes back and gives up the queen on purpose. After you take the queen, Black's bishop checks your king from b4, and when the smoke clears Black has won a piece. Before taking on d5, check whether Black's bishop can give check on b4.
The Lasker Trap in the Albin
Against the Albin, pushing your e-pawn one square looks natural, but it's a mistake. Black's pawn on d4 takes on e3, then on f2 with check, and finally takes your knight on g1 and becomes a new knight with check. After the queen comes to h4 with check, Black wins. Meet the Albin with 4.Nf3 instead.
Questions
Is the Queen's Gambit really a gambit?
Not really. If Black takes the pawn on c4, you can almost always win it back. That is why it is played at every level, including world championship matches.
Queen's Gambit or London System?
The Queen's Gambit fights for the centre straight away and gives richer positions, but you need to know more lines. The London is an easier setup that works against almost anything.
What should I learn first?
Start with the Queen's Gambit Declined and the Slav: those are the replies you will meet most often. Then add the Accepted and the Albin.
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