How to Beat the Queen's Gambit

What you're facing: Not really a gambit — White offers a pawn to deflect Black's d5 pawn and claim the entire center. The backbone of classical chess.

The moves you'll see

Your counter-plans

• The QGD (2…e6) is the classical fortress: …Be7, …0-0, …Nbd7, then free your game with …c5 or …dxc4 and …b5.
• The Slav (2…c6) defends d5 without burying the c8-bishop — develop it to f5 before …e6.
• Accepting (2…dxc4) is fine if you return the pawn for activity — clinging to c4 with …b5 invites disaster.

What your opponent is trying to do

• If Black accepts, don't rush to recapture — develop with e3/e4, Bxc4 comes with tempo later.
• Against the Declined, the minority attack (b4–b5) creates a permanent weakness on c6 to besiege all game.
• Develop the c1-bishop BEFORE playing e3 (Bg5 or Bf4) or it suffocates behind its own pawns.

Rehearse your defense against the computer until the counter-plans are muscle memory — free, in your browser.