Queen's Gambit - Best Opening

by Cecil
(India)

The Queen's Gambit is the oldest gambit and one of the best moves in the opening. It has it's unique point of capturing Black’s pieces early and gaining control over the proceedings of the game from the start.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 b5

White stakes claim to center control and the objective of the queen's gambit is to temporarily sacrifice a pawn to gain control. Black will have a hard time holding onto the pawn after

4. a4 c6

trying to support the b-pawn.

5. axb5 cxb5? 6. Qf3!

where Black's perseverance costs him at least a knight. In the Queen's Gambit, White has good attacking chances and Black will have to concede his pawn on c4 and focus on counter attacks as White will advance further and this is the true gambit that makes this Queens Gambit more important. Play through those moves here.

This is one of the most popular openings as White which gets the chance of moving first will have a clear path to execute it. White will be attacking and if Black judged the happenings, the upper hand will be to White as he enjoys putting constant pressure on opponent. If this was the first move then the chances are there for White to easily conquer even the wittiest moves of Black.

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The following game is an example of good play by both sides:

David Janowski vs Jose Raul Capablanca

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5

Now White can play the Queen's Gambit.

3. c4 c6

Semi-slav Defense.

4. Nc3 Bf5 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Qxb6 axb6

Black has a semi-open file.

7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 cxd5

Latest exchanges leave doubled isolated pawns.

9. e3 Nc6 10. Bd2 Bd7 11. Be2 e6 12. 0-0 Bd6 13. Rfc1 Ke7

Black wants his king to play some part in the game.

14. Bc3 Rhc8

Both rooks eyeing down open files.

15. a3 Na5 16. Nd2 f5 17. g3 b5 18. f3 Nc4

Knight takes up the outpost on c4 and attacks an unprotected central pawn.

19. Bxc4 bxc4

Forced exchange hands Black a newly formed outpost on b3.

20. e4 Kf7 21. e5 Be7 22. f4 b5 23. Kf2 Ra4 24. Ke3 Rca8 25. Rab1 h6 26. Nf3 g5 27. Ne1 Rg8

Black re-positions his rook in anticipation of a breakthrough on the g-file.

28. Kf3 gxf4 29. gxf4 Raa8

The second rook will follow his partner in crime into the enemy camp.

30. Ng2 Rg4 31. Rg1 Rag8

Doubles the rooks forming a battery.

32. Be1 b4 33. axb4 Ba4

Now the bishop invades.

34. Ra1 Bc2 35. Bg3 Be4+ 36. Kf2 h5 37. Ra7 Bxg2 38. Rxg2 h4

Trapping the bishop.

39. Bxh4 Rxg2+

And a white rook falls but the Black bishop will suffer a similar fate.

40. Kf3 Rxh2 41. Bxe7 Rh3+ 42. Kf2 Rb3 43. Bg5+ Kg6 44. Re7 Rxb2+ 45. Kf3 Ra8

The staircase of death awaits the White king.

46. Rxe6+ Kh7

White will run out of checks and then his king will succumb to the Black rooks. He resigns.

0-1

Play through the game here.