Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7

ECO D60

The Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense is a chess opening line in the Queen's Gambit Declined complex, reached after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7.

It is catalogued under code D60 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Nbd7 is chosen by Black on move 6.

15 named continuations branch from this position, including the Botvinnik Variation and the Rauzer Variation.

Named variations

• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Botvinnik Variation — ECO D60
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Rauzer Variation — ECO D60
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein Variation — ECO D61
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Capablanca Variation — ECO D63
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Henneberger Variation — ECO D63
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Main Line — ECO D63
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Pillsbury Variation — ECO D63
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Swiss, Carlsbad Variation — ECO D63
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein Attack — ECO D64
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Bd3 Line — ECO D66
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Fianchetto Variation — ECO D66
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Alekhine Variation — ECO D67
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Capablanca System — ECO D67
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Janowski Variation — ECO D67
• Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Classical Variation — ECO D68

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Catalan Opening 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.