Queen's Gambit Declined · D52
Cambridge Springs Defense, after 7. cxd5
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. cxd5
An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as White's avenue and the d-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. White's knight on c3 is pinned against the king.
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... c6 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Slav 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.