---
title: "Queen's Gambit: Moves, Plans and Win Rates"
url: "https://georgelichess.com/openings/queens-gambit.md"
canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/openings/queens-gambit"
last_updated: "2026-11-10"
type: "reference"
summary: "The Queen's Gambit explained by an International Master: Declined and Accepted lines, the Slav, plans for both sides and how it scores at each rating band."
related: ["https://georgelichess.com/chess-opening-statistics/queens-gambit.md", "https://georgelichess.com/chess-opening-statistics/queens-gambit-declined.md", "https://georgelichess.com/openings.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/gambit.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/declined-gambit.md", "https://georgelichess.com/pricing.md", "https://georgelichess.com/book.md"]
---

# Queen's Gambit: Moves, Plans and Win Rates

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The Queen's Gambit explained by an International Master: Declined and Accepted lines, the Slav, plans for both sides and how it scores at each rating band.

The Queen's Gambit begins 1.d4 d5 2.c4. White offers the c-pawn to deflect Black's d-pawn and take control of the center. It is not a real gambit, since White can usually regain the pawn, and it is one of the oldest and soundest openings in chess. The family scores above half the points for White at every rating band.

## The idea

After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Black has three main choices. Black can accept the pawn with ...dxc4, decline it with ...e6 or play the Slav with ...c6. Each choice leads to a different pawn structure and different plans.

**Diagram: The Queen's Gambit: White's c-pawn attacks d5, and White is ready to regain the pawn if Black takes** Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4. Position (FEN): `rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/8/3p4/2PP4/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq c3 0 2`. Arrows: c4 to d5.

The pawn on c4 is attacked by the black pawn only if Black takes it. If Black does, White takes the pawn back with a bishop move, and the position is rich in plans for both sides.

## The Queen's Gambit Declined

The most popular reply is ...e6. Black holds the center with the pawns on d5 and e6, develops the knight to f6 and the bishop to e7, and castles. The cost is that the bishop on c8 is blocked and Black's position is slightly cramped. The main line is 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4 b6, where White has the center and Black has a solid setup.

**Diagram: The Queen's Gambit Declined: Black has a solid structure and plans the bishop on b7 to relieve the cramp** Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4 b6. Position (FEN): `rnbq1rk1/p1p1bpp1/1p2pn1p/3p4/2PP3B/2N1PN2/PP3PPP/R2QKB1R w KQ - 0 8`. Arrows: c8 to b7, f6 to e4.

The plan for Black is to free the position with ...c5, ...dxc4 or ...Ne4 at the right moment. The plan for White is to use the extra space, usually with a minority attack by b4 and c5 or with the central break e4.

## The Queen's Gambit Accepted

If Black takes with ...dxc4 White regains the pawn with Nf3, e3 and Bxc4. Black cannot hold the pawn, but gets a free development and a freer game. The main line is 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Qe2 b5 8. Bb3 Bb7 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Nc3 Qb6.

**Diagram: The Queen's Gambit Accepted: White has regained the pawn and Black has an open game with active pieces** Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Qe2 b5 8. Bb3 Bb7 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Nc3 Qb6. Position (FEN): `r3kb1r/1b1n1ppp/pq2pn2/1pp5/3P4/1BN1PN2/PP2QPPP/R1BR2K1 w kq - 6 11`. Arrows: b3 to e6, c5 to d4.

White has a lead in development and the center. Black has a healthy pawn structure and an easy game. The accepted lines are good for players who like open positions.

## The Slav

The Slav is the reply for players who want to keep the bishop active. Black plays ...c6, supports d5 with a pawn and keeps the bishop free for f5. The main line is 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7. It is solid and gives a clear plan.

**Diagram: The Slav: Black has developed the light bishop outside the pawn chain and holds the center with ...c6** Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7. Position (FEN): `r2qk2r/pp1n1ppp/2p1pn2/5b2/PbBP4/2N1PN2/1P3PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq - 3 9`. Arrows: f5 to c2.

## How the Queen's Gambit scores

The table sums the Queen's Gambit, the Queen's Gambit Declined and the Queen's Gambit Accepted from the public Lichess database.

| Rating band | Games | White wins | Draws | Black wins | White score |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| under 1200 | 6,973 | 53.1% | 3.3% | 43.6% | 54.7% (plus or minus 1.1) |
| 1200 to 1599 | 20,775 | 52.6% | 3.9% | 43.5% | 54.6% (plus or minus 0.7) |
| 1600 to 1999 | 24,607 | 51.4% | 4.7% | 44.0% | 53.7% (plus or minus 0.6) |
| 2000 and above | 6,683 | 49.7% | 6.7% | 43.5% | 53.1% (plus or minus 1.2) |

The table sums 59,038 rated Blitz, Rapid and Classical games on Lichess played on 1 September 2026 between players within 100 rating points of each other, banded by the lower rating. White scored 54.1% (plus or minus 0.4 points) overall. A score counts a win as 1 and a draw as one half. One day of games is a sample, so read small gaps between bands as noise.

White scores 54.1 percent in the whole sample, and in every band between 53.1 and 54.7 percent. The edge falls a little as the rating rises, from 54.7 percent under 1200 to 53.1 percent above 2000. A larger, steadier edge than most openings is why the Queen's Gambit is still the main weapon against 1...d5.

## Plans in the Declined

White's key ideas in the Declined are the minority attack and the central break. The minority attack uses the b- and c-pawns to attack Black's c6 or d5 and create a weakness on the queenside. The central break e4 is the opposite plan: if White can play it, the center opens in White's favor.

Black has two standard ways to relieve the cramp. The first is ...c5, which attacks d4 and opens the c-file. The second is ...dxc4 followed by ...b5 or ...Nd5 to free the pieces. Black should never sit passively.

## The pawn structures to learn

The Queen's Gambit gives you a small set of pawn structures that recur across the whole game of chess. In the Exchange Declined, White takes on d5 and Black recaptures, leaving a symmetrical center with the open c-file. White often plays Bf4 or Bg5, Qc2, Nf3 and a minority attack with b4, a4 and b5 against the pawn on c6. In the Carlsbad structure Black answers by playing ...Ne4 or ...Nf6-e4, trading the white bishop and aiming for a kingside plan with ...f5.

**Diagram: The Exchange Declined: White has the minority attack in mind with b4 and b5, and Black prepares ...Nf8 and a kingside plan** Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Be7 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Nge2 Re8. Position (FEN): `r1bqr1k1/pp1nbppp/2p2n2/3p2B1/3P4/2NBP3/PPQ1NPPP/R3K2R w KQ - 7 10`. Arrows: b2 to b4, d7 to f8.

Knowing which side attacks where is worth more than any move list. White plays on the queenside with the minority attack, and Black plays in the center and on the kingside. When you reach this structure, ask yourself which plan your side has and do not drift into the other side's plan.

## Three typical mistakes

1. **Keeping the pawn.** Black takes on c4 and tries to hold it with ...b5. White gets a huge lead in development and wins the pawn back with interest. If you accept, plan to give the pawn back.
2. **Blocking the bishop.** In the Declined Black plays ...e6 and ...Nbd7 and never solves the bishop on c8. Make a plan for it by move ten, with ...b6 or ...c5 and ...dxc4.
3. **Pushing e4 before the pieces are ready.** White wants the central break, but a hasty e4 opens the position for Black's pieces and leaves White's own king and queenside undeveloped. Complete your development and see what the break achieves.

## The Elephant Trap

The oldest trap in the Declined is called the Elephant Trap. It happens when White sees a free pawn on d5 and takes it with the knight. The queen trade that follows leaves White a knight down for a pawn, because the bishop check on b4 wins the white queen back.

**Diagram: The Elephant Trap: after the queens come off, White has lost a knight for one pawn** Moves: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Nxd5 Nxd5 7. Bxd8 Bb4+ 8. Qd2 Bxd2+ 9. Kxd2 Kxd8. Position (FEN): `r1bk3r/pppn1ppp/8/3n4/3P4/8/PP1KPPPP/R4BNR w - - 0 10`. Arrows: b4 to d2.

## Two model games

In the first game Black accepts the pawn with 3...dxc4. In the second Black declines it with 3...Nf6, and White exchanges on d5 at move six. Both are real games from public events, published on Lichess broadcasts.

**Javokhir Sindarov (White) against Fabiano Caruana (Black), FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026: White won.** [Replay the game on Lichess](https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-candidates-2026-open/round-4/97di6JjX/Jzyakrf4)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 dxc4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qe2 a6 8. Nc3 b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. a4 b4 11. Ne4 Na5 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. dxc5 Nb3 14. c6 Bxc6 15. Nd4 Nxd4 16. exd4 Rg8 17. g3 f5 18. Bc4 Rg4 19. Be3 Bd5 20. Rac1 Be7 21. Bxa6 Kf8 22. Bb5 Bf6 23. Rfd1 Kg7 24. Bc6 Ra5 25. Bxd5 Rxd5 26. Rc5 Rd7 27. d5 exd5 28. Qf3 Bxb2 29. Rcxd5 Rxd5 30. Rxd5 Qe8 31. Rxf5 Rg6 32. h4 Bc3 33. h5 Ra6 34. Qg4+ Kh8 35. Bd4+ f6 36. Rc5

Lichess names the opening the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Development Variation, and the game began 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 dxc4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5. White won in 36 moves.

**Alireza Firouzja (White) against Magnus Carlsen (Black), Norway Chess 2026: White won.** [Replay the game on Lichess](https://lichess.org/broadcast/norway-chess-2026-open/round-1/iDiHg5m7/bLbXJUam)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 h6 5. a3 c5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bf4 Nc6 8. e3 a6 9. Be2 c4 10. Ne5 Bd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Bg3 Bf5 13. f4 Be7 14. Bf3 Rc8 15. Rc1 b5 16. Be1 b4 17. axb4 Bxb4 18. Bh4 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Qd6 20. Ra1 Ne4 21. Rxa6 f6 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. Ng4 Qd7 24. Nf2 Ne7 25. Qe2 Rc6 26. Rxc6 Qxc6 27. Nxe4 dxe4 28. Ra1 Nd5 29. Be1 Rb8 30. f5 Kh7 31. Qg4 Qd7 32. Qxe4 Re8 33. Qg4 Kg8 34. e4 Ne3 35. Qf3 Nc2 36. Rc1 Na3 37. Bg3 Nb5 38. e5

Lichess names the opening the Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation, and the game began 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 h6 5. a3 c5. The first move that Lichess's computer analysis marks as a blunder is Black's 33...Kg8, where it prefers Nxe3. White won in 38 moves.

## How to study the Queen's Gambit

Choose one reply as Black or one setup as White and learn the plans. Play fifty games and note the moves where you left your preparation. The Queen's Gambit is one of the best openings for learning pawn structure, and the same structures return in the English, the Nimzo-Indian and the Catalan. A coach can review your games and show you which structures you misplay. The packages below show how a lesson works.

| Offer | Lessons | Price | Per lesson |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single lesson | 1 | $150 | $150 |
| Foundation 5 | 5 | $700 | $140 |
| Climb 10 | 10 | $1,350 | $135 |
| Intensive 25 | 25 | $3,250 | $130 |
| Season 40 | 40 | $5,000 | $125 |

Every lesson is 60 minutes, one-on-one, online. [See the packages](https://georgelichess.com/pricing.md).

## Frequently asked questions

**Is the Queen's Gambit a real gambit?**

Not really. White can almost always regain the pawn, so it is more of an invitation than a sacrifice. The name stuck from the days when the pawn was harder to win back.

**Which reply to the Queen's Gambit is best for beginners?**

The Slav and the Queen's Gambit Declined are the easiest to learn. The Slav keeps the bishop active, and the Declined is the most classical reply.

**Should I accept the Queen's Gambit?**

You can, but you will not keep the pawn. The accepted lines are easy to play and give you an open game, but White has a small lead in development.

**Why do so many strong players play the Queen's Gambit?**

Because it gives White a safe edge in space with a lot of room for improvement. The structure is rich, and the same plans appear in many other openings.

## Build a Queen's Gambit repertoire

A one-on-one lesson on your own games shows which Queen's Gambit structures to learn first. [Book a lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md).

## Related

- [/chess-opening-statistics/queens-gambit](https://georgelichess.com/chess-opening-statistics/queens-gambit.md)
- [Queen's Gambit Declined statistics](https://georgelichess.com/chess-opening-statistics/queens-gambit-declined.md)
- [Chess Openings: Guides With Real Win Rates](https://georgelichess.com/openings.md)
- [Gambit](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/gambit.md)
- [Declined gambit](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/declined-gambit.md)
- [Lesson packages and prices](https://georgelichess.com/pricing.md)
- [Book a lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md)

## Related

- [Queen's Gambit win rate](https://georgelichess.com/chess-opening-statistics/queens-gambit.md)
- [Queen's Gambit Declined win rate](https://georgelichess.com/chess-opening-statistics/queens-gambit-declined.md)
- [Chess Openings: Guides With Real Win Rates](https://georgelichess.com/openings.md)
- [Gambit in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/gambit.md)
- [Declined gambit in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/declined-gambit.md)
- [Chess lesson prices and packages](https://georgelichess.com/pricing.md)
- [Book a chess lesson with George Li](https://georgelichess.com/book.md)