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Queen's Gambit facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Queen's Gambit is a chess opening which starts with 1.d4 d5 2.c4. It is not really a gambit, because the pawn taken cannot be held. For example (simplest line):

1.d4 d5
2.c4 dxc4
3.e3 b5
4.a4 c6
5.axb5 cxb5
6.Qf3 and wins.
  • 2...dxc4 is the Queen's Gambit Accepted. 5085 games in database.
  • 2...e6 is the Queen's Gambit Declined. 14,635 games.
  • 2...c6 is the Slav defence. 17,801 games.
  • 2...Nc6 is Chigorin's defence. 836 games.

Queen's Gambit Accepted

The QGA
a b c d e f g h
8
Chessboard480.svg
a8 black rook
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
h8 black rook
b7 black bishop
c7 black queen
d7 black knight
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
a6 black pawn
e6 black pawn
f6 black knight
b5 black pawn
c5 black pawn
d4 white pawn
b3 white bishop
c3 white knight
e3 white pawn
f3 white knight
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
e2 white queen
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
c1 white bishop
d1 white rook
g1 white king
8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
position after 10...Qc7

Since the pawn can't be kept, Black (by taking the c-pawn) has given up the centre. The standard strategy then is for Black to mount a counter-attack on the White centre.

1.d4 d5
2.c4 dxc4
3.Nf3 Nf6
4.e3 e6
5.Bxc4 c5
6.0-0 a6
7.Qe2 b5
8.Bb3 Bb7
9.Rd1 Nbd7
10.Nc3 Qc7/Qb8/Qb6 (alternates)

Now the white centre is balanced by the black counter-attack.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Gambito de dama para niños

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Queen's Gambit Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.