QGD Orthodox Variation still amazes me

I'm still in awe of the variation after decades of playing it. I can see why it was so popular for a half century before WWII.

I've never found it boring... and knowing it is extremely solid defensively... that belief have saved a few games where I was in positions where I would have given up and taken the 0-1... The way people play aggressive these days... that aggression just plays into that defense.

I also see the precursor to many other defenses found in it.

Anyone else seriously play the Orthodox?

I don't play the Queen's Gambit much any more, but the few times I do, I have always found the Rubinstein line very strong against the Orthodox:

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.Qc2!

Now 7...c5 (Black's only move as far as I am concerned) 8.Rd1 and you have a game with 3 results.

Against anything else, ESPECIALLY 7...c6, which I see a lot of amateurs play, the answer is 8.O-O-O and White will conduct a kingside pawn storm.

In fact, another sucker move that lowly amateurs play, after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.Qc2! c6? 8.O-O-O, is 8...h6? All you do is give White a hook, and at the moment, White won't even move the Bishop. 9.h4!! advantage White!

Rubinstien was incredible ... author/inventor of this variation and the main line in the Tarrasch, for a guy who never was WC he sure made an impact, WWI kept him from playing for the title in his prime.

IMO... We are talking about some very cool lines.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.Qc2 c5 8.0-0-0 in which I like 8...Qa5

A) 9.h4 cxd4 10 .Nxd4 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Ne5 12.Bb3 =

B) 9.cxd5 exd5 10.dxc5 h6 11.h4 Rd8= very sharp tactically for both sides, Example: 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Rxd5 hxg5 14.hxg5 Nf8; 
C) 9.Kb1 cxd4 10.Rxd4 h6 11.h4 Bc5 12.Rd1 dxc4= (9...Bb4 10.Nb3 Qb6=)

Nothing dull or drawish here

8.O-O-O is a mistake against 7...c5.

Against most other moves, especially 7...c6, it is the best move, but it is too dangerous against 7...c5. 8.Rd1 is far superior after 7...c5.

The current fashion is the so-called "Modern Orthodox" where the moves ...h6 and Bh4 are inserted before ...Nbd7.

Personally, I find amazing that after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 the move 4...dxc4 (which would be more than enough for you to be discredited as a noob a few years ago) is actually played in the highest level, and scoring very well!

If your interested .. Luis Rodi in his "The Modernized Queen's Gambit Decline covers this line pretty extensively.

For some stupid reason I really get the QGD especially the Orthodox var.. I can remember the theory and play it better than my rating. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 0-0 6.Qc2 [6.e3 Nbd7 7.Qc2 h6 if.... 8.Bh4 then 8...c5! 9.Rd1 Qa5 10.Be2 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Nb6 12.Be2= Ornstien-Lengyel, Reykjavik 1982]

6...h6 7.Bh4 dxc4 8.e3 c5= I'd play this all day. Both lines look exciting to me...

Seems playable.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 0-0 6.Qc2 Nbd7 7.e3 c5 8.0-0-0 Qa5

probably with 9.cxd5!? exd5 10.dxc5

10...Bxc5? Looks ok & I could see a lot of people playing it But.... 11.Nd4 Bxd4 (Black is going to loose his DSB in an exchange anyway 12.Rxd4 (12...h6 13.Bh4 a6 Gabriel-Onishchuk 1998) 12... a6 13.Bd3 +- White has solid pressure down the center, combined with a kingside pawn roller...

That stated ...if Black knows their stuff there is lot's of nuances in the Orthodox.

Example after 10....h6 White's two main reply's

11.h4 and 11. Bxf6 Both lead to exciting games with chances for both sides.

Good stuff (IMHO)

These days... the theory is almost forgotten .. I just watched two players rated in the 2300s play this

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 c6?! 7.Qc2?!

White could have exploited 6...c6!? with 7.Bd3! It seems neither player knew the nuances of the Orthodox... & both where out of bounds when it comes to theory in a matter of moves.

I know you play the Petroff and I might take that up as well... the Petroff looks to have similar qualities as the QGD Orthodox.. in a "defensive positional sense" where the more harder White pushes for an advantage, the more chances they give black to counter attack... resulting in not so drawish games below the Titled player level...  

Also here:

https://tinyurl.com/23ejvfa3

Nice... thanks!