Hey guys, this is my time posting in the analysis forum so please be gentle. I have for you fine folks an annotated game which I played today. Although I won the game, it was only because of a serious blunder made by black. I guess what I'm looking for is advice for what to do as white when black plays Queen's Gambit Declined. Thanks!
Weak opening, QGD as wh
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4.. Nc6 doesn't lose decisively. The reason that 4.. Nc6 isn't played much is because the knight blocks the c pawn which is typically the pawn used to break up the white center. Without it, black is relegated to a pretty passive game. Still, the knight on c6 doesn't leave black as cramped as he would be if it had gone to d7.
You should probably look at a database with more than 30 games. In the database I use, 2013 players played 5 Bg5. Only 38 played 5 c5. Why? I think it resolves the tension in the center and makes it harder for white to break though.
Here is one game in the 5 Bg5 line:
I think it shows how the Nc6 was a problem for black the whole game because of the pawn targets on c7 and d5 but that alone was not decisive. The game was won when play shifted back over to the kingside and black couldn't protect his king without giving up the c pawn.
notmtwain, Thanks for the advice and the posted game! So, just to clarify, if you had been black in that position would you have pushed the c-cpawn before advancing your knight, or would you have simply move the knight to a6?
5.c5 is a very weak move. Why should white voluntarily relase all the pressure to black's center?
I would likely play the simple 5.e3, preparing Bd3, 0-0 and eventually e3-e4, which adds to the central pressure and opens the c1 bishop- although alternatively (depending on Black's reply) this bishop can be effectively deployed to b2.
5.Bf4 is very reasonable, too, but Black may trade it after ...Ng6 and ...Bd6. I would prefer to keep all minor pieces on the board.