Queen's Gambit Part I: Queen's Gambit Declined
How do you like gambit lines? Well, if you want a gambit line without actually giving up a pawn, the Queen's Gambit is for you. This is a very well known continuation and has many responses to which black can respond. But don't be careless as black, because this opening can be deadly if you accept it. Some responses poison black as well, so watch out!
Here is a diagram of the Queen's Gambit Declined(QGD).
One important thing for people playing against the QGD, is to never take that pawn on d5 unless you actually win a pawn. Yes, your center pawns will outnumber black's two to one, but if black can take control of the e4 square, what's the use of the e2(maybe e3) pawn? It's just doing what a pawn on f2 could be doing. Supporting the d-pawn. Then it's still basically one center pawn against one center pawn.
Use the QGD to its advantage. That goes for both black and white. Black can make use of the pawn chain and maybe transpose it into a Slav Defense: Modern, Triangle System, but then the knight on b1 and the bishop on c1 will be a bit cramped. That basically means as black, you're forced to castle kingside if you want your king to be safe fast. I guess you could always castle queenside eventually, but that gives white chances to attack the king in the center.
For white, you want to take advantage of the cramped bishop and(maybe) knight on b1 and c1. Develop quickly, so you're going to have a minor piece majority fighting for the center, which is always good. Now you have the possibility of moving the rook to e1 and possibly pushing e4 after you're castled, or move the light- squared bishop to d3, knight to c3, and just push e4 before you're castled. Of course I would prefer pushing e4 after you're castled, but there's an option.
An interesting line where Black will win a pawn but White has better development/placed pieces.
Here's the first part in the Queen's Gambit, the QGD. I hope you enjoyed reading it and try out the Queen's Gambit sometime!
