Chess lessons › Chess openings
The Queen’s Gambit
Declined or accepted: why it is not a real gambit, and what each side wants.
The idea
White attacks Black’s centre pawn on d5 with a pawn from the side.
- White’s pawn on c4 attacks d5, and nothing defends it.
- Black can keep d5 with e6: the Queen’s Gambit Declined.
- Or Black takes on c4, and White can usually win the pawn back.
In a game: Declining with e6 is solid, but it shuts in the bishop on c8, as in the French.
How the lesson begins
Find the move
White to move. Black has met 1.d4 with ...d5. Attack the pawn on d5 with a pawn from the side. White seems to offer the pawn on c4, and this is the Queen’s Gambit.
A hint
The pawn on c2 moves two squares.
Show the answer
2. c4
c4 attacks d5. If Black takes it, White can win the pawn back, so in spite of its name it is not a true gambit, as you will see. Among players rated 1200 to 1599 on Lichess, White played 2.c4 in 30% of the games that reached 1.d4 d5, and scored 55% after it.
Find the move
Black to move. White has offered the c-pawn. Keep your pawn on d5 by defending it with the e-pawn.
A hint
The pawn on e7 moves one square.
Show the answer
2... e6
e6 is the Queen’s Gambit Declined. The pawn defends d5 and Black has a solid centre, but it shuts in the bishop on c8, the same problem as in the French. Among players rated 1200 to 1599 on Lichess, Black chose 2...e6 in 22% of the games that reached move 2 and 2...dxc4 in 31%.
In numbers
How often it is played
| Rating | Value |
|---|---|
| Under 800 | Too few games |
| 800 to 1199 | 21 |
| 1200 to 1599 | 30 |
| 1600 to 1999 | 35 |
| 2000 and up | 34 |
How the games ended
White won 53%, 5% were drawn and Black won 43%, over 57,084 games that start this way, in a sample of rated Lichess games from 2026.