Queen's Gambit Declined · D06
Baltic Defense, Queen Attack
1. d4 d5 2. c4 Bf5 3. Qb3
In the centre, White holds d4 while Black holds d5.
The first 4 moves, explained
- 1. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
- 1... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen.
- 2. c4 Challenges the pawn on d5 - the central tension has to resolve. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Queen's Gambit: development and initiative over material.
- 2... Bf5 Develops the bishop with tempo - it attacks the knight on b1. Theory calls this the Baltic Defense.
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Where this fits
This line is one of 200 in the Queen's Gambit Declined. If you want to know where your own games leave it, the guide on leaving theory explains how that is found.