Queen's Gambit Declined

The most solid defense against 1.d4: Orthodox, Tartakower, Lasker and Carlsbad

The choice of world champions against 1.d4: Black keeps the d5 pawn with ...e6, develops calmly and frees the game with the ...c5 or ...e5 pushes at the right moment. The course covers the main plans and the classic Elephant Trap.

Chapter 1: Orthodox Variation with 4.Bg5

Tartakower, Lasker and Capablanca's freeing maneuver.

1. Tartakower Variation (7...b6) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O…
2. Lasker Defense (7...Ne4) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O…
3. Capablanca's Freeing Maneuver 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O…

Chapter 2: Exchange Variation, 5.Bf4 and Catalan

The Carlsbad structure, the system with Bf4 and the answer to the Catalan.

1. Exchange Variation (Carlsbad structure) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6…
2. System with 5.Bf4 and ...c5 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O…
3. Against the Catalan: Open Catalan 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O…

Chapter 3: Traps

The Elephant Trap: when White captures on d5 too hastily.

1. Elephant Trap 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5…