Chess: 900 to 1800

Queen's Gambit Declined (and Black vs 1.d4, 1.c4, 1.Nf3): Key Ideas

Hold d5, develop, castle — then free your game with …c5 or …e5.

  • 8 min
  • 1 step
  • Lesson 125 of 132

You play Black (ECO D30–D69, D00–D05, A40–A48, A04–A09, A10–A15, E01–E09). 40 lines in 7 chapters, 17 of them core. The course page sets out the plans, the key ideas on their boards, and every chapter.

Learn shows each move with an arrow and the reason for it, then asks for the line from memory; learned lines come back for review after 1, 3, 7, 14, 30, 60, and 120 days. Spar has the opponent choose a random reply at every branch, so each run is a different line. Learn the core lines first.

Queen's Gambit Declined (and Black vs 1.d4, 1.c4, 1.Nf3): Key Ideas The square arrow button opens this screen in the full trainer, with its menu and settings. Credit: Chess Trainer

Lesson complete

Nice work.

1day streak
0/1today's goal

Up next · 15 min

Orthodox Defence: 4.Bg5 Nbd7

Next lesson