Queen's Gambit

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The Queen's Gambit is a chess opening that starts with 1.d4 d5 2.c4 (in algebraic chess notation).

White offers up a pawn in exchange for rapid development. His aim is to tempt Black's center pawn away and thus make c4 and e4 accessible for his own forces. Black can accept the gambit with dxc4 (the Queen's Gambit Accepted) or can decline with 2... e6 (the Orthodox Defence) or 2... c6 (the Slav Defence)—if black plays both e6 and c6 it is known as the Semi-Slav. Less commonly, Black plays 2... Nc6 (the Chigorin Defense), 2... e5 (the Albin Counter-Gambit) or 2... Nf6 (the Marshall defence).

If Black decides to take the pawn, he cannot expect to keep it. An opening trap after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 goes 3.e3 b5? (Black tries to guard his pawn but should develop with e.g. 3.Nf6) 4.a4 c6 5.axb5 cxb5?? 6.Qf3! winning a piece on black's weakened queenside. Therefore the term Queen's Gambit is slightly misleading, since a gambit usually involves a more permanent sacrifice.