Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Exchange Variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.O-O cxd4

ECO D26

The Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense, Steinitz Variation, Exchange Variation 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 6.O-O cxd4.

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

The defining move cxd4 is chosen by Black on move 6.

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.