QGD Normal Variation
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.e3!?
There are 14,082 examples of this move in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, which puts it massively ahead of 4.cxd5 in popularity, but behind 4.Bg5, 4.g3 and especially 4.Nc3.
4...c5 5.a3!?
Magnus Carlsen is among those who have played this move, which scores better percentagewise in Mega26 than the more popular 5.cxd5 and 5.Nc3. The move is not defensive, or. at least, not purely defensive, as will soon become clear.
5...Nc6
The top choice of Stockfish18 and Dragon1 is 5...dxc4!?, which seems strange when White has not spent a tempo on moving the king's bishop. However, after 6.Bxc4 a6 7.0-0 b5 the engines reckon the game is equal.
6.dxc5!?
Also strange, but it is the engines' top choice, and again has been played by Carlsen, although Dragon1 for quite some time marginally prefers 6.Nc3.
6...Bxc5 7.b4 Be6 8.Bb2 0-0 9.Be2!?
The engines prefer 9.Nbd2 or 9.cxd5.
9...dxc4 10.Qxd8+ Rxd8 11.Bxc4 Bd7
Possibly a novelty. Known moves are 11...a6 and Murray Chandler's 11...Nd5.
12.0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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Black is ahead on development, quantitively, in having developed five pieces against White's three (and it is Black to move). But White's quality of development is better, in that White's bishops are much more active than their black counterparts. The engines reckon the position is equal, but if White can catch up in the number of pieces developed, then White may well have a decent advantage, unless Black in the meantime can catch up on quality of development.
12...Rac8 13.Bb3
The engines suggest 13.Nbd2.
13...Ne4!?
This sets a little trap.
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| How should White proceed? |
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14.Nc3?
The engines suggest 14.Nbd2, but reckon Black has at least the better part of equality after both 14...Nxd2 and 14...Nd6.
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| Black to play and get what the engines reckon is a winning advantage |
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14...Nxc3 15.Bxc3
US offered a draw, shortly after pressing the clock.
15...Na5! 16.bxa5
There is nothing better.
16...Rxc3 17.Rfb1
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| Black's activity, bishop-pair and superior pawn-structure add up to an advantage worth almost a minor piece, according to the engines |
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17...Bf6 18.Ra2 Bc6
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| What should White play? |
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19.h3?
The engines suggest 19.Rd2 Be4 20.Rbd1! Rdd3 21.Rxd3 Bxd3 22.Nd2!?, but agree Black is winning. Their alternative is 19.Nd2, but they reckon Black is again winning after, for example, 19...a6 20.h3 Kf8 21.a4 h5, although, in both cases, White has not fallen behind on material. Note that 19.Kf1?, which, like the text, tries to solve White's back-rank-mate problems, runs into 19...Bb5+ (19...Be4 is also good) 20.Ke1 Bd3.
19...Be4 20.Rbb2 Rc1+ 21.Kh2 Bxb2 22.Rxb2 Bxf3!? 23.gxf3 Rc5 0-1
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