Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5

ECO D26

The Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense is a chess opening line in the Queen's Gambit Accepted complex, reached after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5.

It is catalogued under code D26 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move c5 is chosen by Black on move 5.

7 named continuations branch from this position, including the Normal Line and the Development Variation.

Named variations

• Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Normal Line — ECO D26
• Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Development Variation — ECO D26
• Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Exchange Variation — ECO D26
• Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Main Line — ECO D27
• Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Rubinstein Variation — ECO D27
• Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Russian Gambit — ECO D27
• Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Alekhine System — ECO D28

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Beat the Queen's Gambit Accepted course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.