Queen's Gambit

• At a glance

  Queen's Gambit

  Alexandra Botez's 1.d4 opening against …d5: 163 games, 50.3%, above her overall score with White (48.2%). The Carlsbad structure works well for her; the Black bishop developed to f5, the Accepted and the Albin call for precise plans.

  20 cards, one idea each. Swipe to move on.

• The big idea

  Your games: 161× · you score 48%

  1.d4 d5 2.c4: Alexandra Botez offers a pawn for the center.

• The big idea

  Your games: 91× · you score 49%

  Against 2…e6, she trades on d5 right away and gets the Carlsbad structure, where White has a plan known in advance: the minority attack on the queenside.

• The big idea

  163 games, 77 wins, 10 draws, 76 losses: 50.3%, against 48.2% with White overall. Every percentage in this course is hers.

• The big idea

  Your games: 70× · you score 53%

  The structure after 3.cxd5 exd5 comes up most often: position reached 70 times, 53%.

• The big idea

  The dossier flags no recurring move Stockfish disputes.

• The big idea

  Points are lost in the plans: the 4…c6 5.Bf4 Bf5 line (5 games, 30%), the Queen's Gambit Accepted (17 games, 44%) and the Albin Countergambit (position reached 6 times, 50%).

• Principle

  In the Carlsbad, the minority attack

  Rb1, b4, then a4 and b5: two White pawns against three Black ones on the queenside, to leave Black a weak pawn on c6 or d5.

• Principle

  The f5 bishop is hunted with Nh4

  The Black bishop developed to f5 is Black's best piece in the structure. h3 and g4, then Nh4: White trades it and takes the bishop pair.

• Principle

  Against …Bd6, trade the bishops

  Your games: 9× · you score 44%

  After 6.Bf4 Bd6, 7.Bxd6 Qxd6 is Stockfish's first choice (+0.2): she has played it in 8 games.

• Principle

  Against an early …c6 and …Bf5, f3 and g4

  When the bishop comes out before the g8 knight, 6.f3 prepares g4 and e4: Stockfish ranks it first (+0.3).

• Principle

  Against 2…dxc4, the center first

  Your games: 3× · you score 0%

  3.e4 takes the center right away; against 3…e5, 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4 develops while winning the pawn back.

• Principle

  Against the Albin, target the d4 pawn

  Your games: 3× · you score 33%

  After 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6, the e5 pawn will eventually fall; the d4 pawn, far from its base, becomes White's target.

• Imbalance

  White's queenside minority

  Your games: 35× · you score 61%

  In the Carlsbad, White has two pawns against three on the queenside. The minority is the one attacking: b4-b5 creates a weakness on c6 or d5.

• Imbalance

  The f5 bishop against the d3 bishop

  In the Carlsbad, Black's c8 bishop is free: on f5, it confronts the d3 bishop. White avoids it or chases it with Nh4.

• Imbalance

  The c4 pawn against the center

  Your games: 3× · you score 0%

  After 2…dxc4, Black takes a pawn for a while; White occupies the center with e4 and wins c4 back with the f1 bishop.

• Imbalance

  The Albin's d4 pawn

  Your games: 3× · you score 33%

  Black's d4 pawn hampers White's development, but it is far from its base: g3, Bg2 and a knight on b5 attack it.

• The trade-off

  What you gain

  • A stable structure, with a plan known in advance.
  • After 5…c6 6.Bg5, she scores 69% (21 games).
  • Little forcing theory: plans matter more than moves.
• The trade-off

  What you give up

  • Against an early …Bf5, Black equalizes easily if White does not react.
  • The Accepted and the Albin leave the Carlsbad and call for precise answers.
  • Symmetrical structures leave little imbalance to exploit.
• That's all

  Your turn

  These ideas only stick once you play the moves. The chapters make you find the right ones.

  Start chapter 1

Card 1 of 20: Queen's Gambit

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