15. Queen's Gambit Accepted (3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5)
Black accepts the pawn but does not try to keep it: he aims at the quick c5 break.
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 Qb8 11.d5 exd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5
Move by move
- 1.d4 – White takes the center with the queen's pawn, already defended by the Queen, and opens the diagonal for the c1 Bishop. The repertoire plan is c4 next move to attack Black's d5 pawn at once.
- 1...d5 – Black answers symmetrically: the d5 pawn prevents e4 and contests the center. White can now hit it from the side with the c-pawn.
- 2.c4 – The Queen's Gambit attacks d5 with a flank pawn. It is not a real sacrifice: after 2...dxc4 White regains the pawn with e3 and Bxc4, or takes the center with e4.
- 2...dxc4 – Queen's Gambit Accepted: Black takes the c4 pawn, knowing he cannot keep it, to develop freely and hit d4 with ...c5.
- 3.Nf3 – The Knight prevents ...e5, the push that would free Black's game, and supports d4. The c4 pawn will be regained with e3 and Bxc4.
- 3...Nf6 – Black develops and controls e4, holding back White's central push. It prepares ...e6 and ...c5.
- 4.e3 – The pawn opens the f1 Bishop's diagonal, which will regain c4, and supports d4 against the coming ...c5.
- 4...e6 – Black opens the f8 Bishop and prepares ...c5. It does not try to defend c4: holding it with ...b5 would weaken the queenside.
- 5.Bxc4 – White regains the pawn with development. It has the extra d4 pawn in the center against the e6 pawn.
- 5...c5 – Black attacks d4: it is the typical QGA push to equalize the center. If White exchanges on c5, Black recaptures with the Bishop.
- 6.O-O – The King goes to safety before the center is opened. White prepares Qe2 and Rd1 to support the d5 push.
- 6...a6 – Black prepares ...b5 to gain space with tempo on the c4 Bishop and to develop the c8 Bishop to b7.
- 7.Qe2 – The Queen prepares Rd1 on the d-file and the push e4 or d5. If ...b5, the Bishop goes to b3 without losing the diagonal toward e6.
- 7...b5 – Black gains space and chases away the c4 Bishop. It prepares ...Bb7 on the long diagonal.
- 8.Bb3 – The Bishop stays on the a2-g8 diagonal, where it presses on e6: it will be useful when White pushes d5.
- 8...Bb7 – The Bishop develops on the long diagonal and controls d5 and e4, the squares of White's central pushes.
- 9.Rd1 – The Rook goes to the d-file behind the d4 pawn and prepares the d5 push, which will open the game with Black's King still in the center.
- 9...Nbd7 – The Knight develops and controls e5 and c5. Black prepares ...Qb8 or ...Qc7 to take the Queen off the d-file.
- 10.Nc3 – The Knight develops and attacks d5 a second time: the d5 push is ready.
- 10...Qb8 – The Queen leaves the d-file, where it was exposed to the d1 Rook, and aims along the b8-h2 diagonal.
- 11.d5 – The d5 push opens the center while the black King is still on e8: the d and e files open against him.
- 11...exd5 – Black captures the pawn. White must regain the material on d5.
- 12.Nxd5 – The Knight recaptures on d5 and threatens Nc7+ or Nxf6+. White's pieces are all active.
- 12...Nxd5 – Black exchanges the d5 Knight to reduce the attack. White recaptures with the b3 Bishop and keeps the pressure on the d-file, with Black's King still in the center.
How to exploit the position
The center is open and Black's King is still on e8 with the f8 Bishop undeveloped: White has a big lead in development.
- Recapture with 13.Bxd5: the centralized Bishop and the d1 Rook press on the d-file.
- Prepare e4 followed by Re1 or Bg5 to open the e-file against the black King.
- The f3 Knight can go to g5 or e5 to attack f7 and d7.
- Black wants ...Be7 and ...O-O: every tempo you gain prevents him from castling.
Master tips
If Black keeps the pawn with ...b5
In the QGA the c4 pawn cannot be kept without weakening Black's queenside.