Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5

ECO D50

The Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation is a chess opening line in the Queen's Gambit Declined complex, reached after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5.

It is catalogued under code D50 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Bg5 is chosen by White on move 4.

3 named continuations branch from this position, including the Knight Defense and the Heral Variation.

Named variations

• Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Knight Defense — ECO D51
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Heral Variation — ECO D53
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Modern Variation, Normal Line — ECO D55

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Opening Tricks Hall of Fame 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.