Openings

As Black: Queen’s Gambit Declined

Continue your …e6 repertoire: castling, developing the c8 bishop and recapturing according to the structure.

Club foundations · 1000–1400Intermediate · 1400–1600Toward 1800 · 1600–1800

4 lessons · 32 min estimated practice

Free · No game imports needed

♖1♘♗♔♕♖♙2♙♙♙♙♙3♘4♙♙5♗♟6♞♟♟7♟♟♟♟♟♜8hg♝f♚e♛d♝c♞b♜a

Black to move

Try the first position

As Black, develop …Be7 and castle after e3.

Develop behind the chain
Club foundations · 8 min
The white g5 bishop applies pressure through the f6 knight. You can develop the f8 bishop and complete castling.
Prepare the bishop and choose the recapture
Toward 1800 · 8 min
…b6 prepares an exit for the c8 bishop. If White exchanges on d5, observe how a knight recapture changes the diagonal toward e7.
Give the c8 bishop a role
Intermediate · 8 min
You have already prepared b7 with a pawn. Develop the bishop there and connect the queenside knight to the centre.
Recognise a different structure after cxd5
Intermediate · 8 min
In this early position, recapturing with the e-pawn maintains a central pawn and opens the c8 bishop’s diagonal.