Capture a pawn in the Queen's Gambit and win in 10 moves

No more headaches against the English and Reti - easy chess!

A repertoire for Black against d4, c4, and Nf3. This course will give you a very straightforward defense against 3 of White's 4 major openings.

Welcome to the Queen’s Gambit Declined Course! 

In the first chapter, we’ll take a look at the setup, where White brings out their knights to c3 and f3 on the third and fourth moves. We should check it out right at the beginning, since 3.Nc3 is the most popular move with 60% of games played!

Our plan starting with …a6, and capturing on c4 with the idea of pushing …b5 is a very universal plan, so this applies to quite a bit of setups by White. 


Video 1 

Study 1: Queen's Gambit Declined 2 Knights, We Take on c4 (with 5.a4)

Drill 1: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5.a4 and 6.Bg5)

Drill 2: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5. a4 and 6. e3 with 7.Ne5)

Drill 3: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5. a4 and 6. e3 with 7.Be2)

Drill 4: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5. a4 and 6. e4 with 7.Be3)

Drill 5: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5. a4 and 6. e4 with 7.Be2)

Drill 6: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5. a4 and 6. e4 with 7.Ne5)

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Quiz 8

Strategy Quiz 1

Video 2

Study 2: Queen's Gambit Declined 2 Knights, We Take on c4 (with 5. e4/e3)

Drill 7: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5. e3 with 7.Nb1)

Drill 8: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5. e3 with 7.Na2)

Drill 9: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5. e3 with 7.Ne4)

Drill 10: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5. e4 with 6.a3)

Drill 11: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5. e4 and 6.a4 with 7.Ne2)

Drill 12: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5. e4 and 6.a4 with 7.Nb1 and 8.Nbd2)

Drill 13: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5. e4 and 6.a4 with 7.Nb1 and 8.e5)

Drill 14: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5. e4 and 6.a4 with 7.Na2 and 8.e5)

Drill 15: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5. e4 and 6.a4 with 7.Na2 and 8.Bxc4)

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Quiz 18

Strategy Quiz 2

Video 3 

Study 3: Queen's Gambit Declined 2 Knights, 4...dxc4 Sidelines

Drill 16: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5.g3)

Drill 17: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5.Qa4+)

Drill 18: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5.Bf4)

Drill 19: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5.Bg5 with 7.Qa4+)

Drill 20: 2 Knights QGD, We take on c4 (5.Bg5 with 7.e3)

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Strategy Quiz 3

Chapter 1: Queen’s Gambit, 2 Knights Setup

In the first chapter, we started with the most popular approach by White. It was an introduction to the plan of pushing …a6 quite early, but with an interesting idea that creates some counterplay against White’s otherwise solid Queen’s Gambit setup.

The second chapter continues to cover White’s 2 knight setup, but White anticipates our …b5 plan, and trades on d5 after 3…a6, the second most popular move. This isn’t surprising, since our plan of …b5 is very effective. 

The studies are divided according to White’s sixth moves, like Bg5, Bf5, and e3 or g3.

Study 1: Queen's Gambit Declined - White Trades on d5 (6. Bg5)

Drill 1: White Trades on d5 (7.Qb3)

Drill 2: White Trades on d5 (7.Bxf6)

Drill 3: White Trades on d5 (7.Qc2)

Drill 4: White Trades on d5 (7.e4)

Drill 5: White Trades on d5 (7.e3 and 8.Qb3 with 9.Be2)

Drill 6: White Trades on d5 (7.e3 and 8.Qb3 with 9.a4)

Drill 7: White Trades on d5 (7.e3 and 8.Qb3 with 9.Ne5)

Drill 8: White Trades on d5 (7.e3 and 8.Be2)

Drill 9: White Trades on d5 (7.e3 and 8.Bd3)

Study 2: Queen's Gambit Declined - White Trades on d5 (6. Bf4)

Drill 10: White Trades on d5 (6.Bf4, 7. e3 and 8. Bd3)

Drill 11: White Trades on d5 (6.Bf4 and 7.e3, 8. Qb3)

Drill 12: White Trades on d5 (6.Bf4 and 7.Bg5)

Drill 13: White Trades on d5 (6.Bf4 and 7.Bg3)

Drill 14: White Trades on d5 (6.Bf4 and 7.Bxd6)

Strategy Quiz 2 

Video 3

Study 3: Queen's Gambit Declined - Other 6th moves for White (6.e3, 6.g3)

Drill 15: White Trades on d5 (6.g3)

Drill 16: White Trades on d5 (6.e3 and 7.Bd3)

Drill 17: White Trades on d5 (6.e3 and 7.Qb3)

Video 4

Study 4: Queen's Gambit Declined - Other 5th moves for White (5.Bf4, 5.e3, 5.g3, 5.e4, 5.Qb3)

Drill 18: White Trades on d5 (5. Bf4, 7. Bxd6)

Drill 19: White Trades on d5 (5. Bf4, 7. Bg3)

Drill 20: White Trades on d5 (5. Bf4, 7. Qf3, 9. Bd3 and 10. Nge2)

Drill 21: White Trades on d5 (5. Bf4, 7. Qf3, 9. Bd3 and 10. h3)

Drill 22: White Trades on d5 (5. e3)

Drill 23: White Trades on d5 (5. g3)

Drill 24: White Trades on d5 (5. e4, 8. d5)

Drill 25: White Trades on d5 (5. e4, 8. Nf3)

Drill 26: White Trades on d5 (5. Qb3, 7. e3).

Drill 27: White Trades on d5 (5. Qb3, 7. e4, 8. Nxe4)

Drill 28: White Trades on d5 (5. Qb3, 7. e4, 8. Bc4)

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Strategy Quiz 4

Chapter 2: Queen's Gambit, 2 Knights Setup (White Plays 4. cxd5)

We’ve covered positions where White decided to trade on d5 with 4.cxd5. It is safer for White, but it also helps our development! White also had a few options on the sixth move, like Bg5 or Bf4.

Let’s check out yet another setup that White can go for. Here, White chooses the fourth most popular move 4.e3 to develop their pieces. Next, we’ll check out other fourth moves like Bf4 or g3, going for a Catalan setup.

Video 1

Study 1: Queen's Gambit Declined - 4. e3, Boring Lines

Drill 1: QGD - White plays 4. e3, 6. Bd3

Drill 2: QGD - White plays 4. e3, 6. b3

Study 2: Queen's Gambit Declined - 4. Bf4, 4. e4

Drill 3: QGD - White plays 4. Bf4 (5. a4)

Drill 4: QGD - White plays 4. Bf4  (5. e3 with 7. Na2)

Drill 5: QGD - White plays 4. Bf4  (5. e3 with 7. Nb1)

Drill 6: QGD - White plays 4. Bf4 (5. e3 with 7. Ne4)

Drill 7: QGD - White plays 4. Bf4  (5. Qa4+)

Drill 8: QGD - White plays 4. e4  (6. Nxf6+)

Drill 9: QGD - White plays 4. e4  (6. Bg5)

Drill 10: QGD - White plays 4. e4  (6. Nc3)

Strategy Quiz 5

Study 3: Queen's Gambit Declined - 4. g3, Catalan Style

Drill 11: QGD - White plays 4. g3 and 5. Bg2 and 6. Qa4+

Drill 12: QGD - White plays 4. g3 and 5. Qa4+

Drill 13: QGD - White plays 4. g3 and 5. Bg2 with 6. Nf3 and 7. 0-0

Drill 14: QGD - White plays 4. g3 and 5. Bg2 with 6. Nf3 and 7. Ne5

Strategy Quiz 6

Study 4: Fighting an Early 4. a4 after 3. Nc3

Drill 15: 4. a4 after Nc3 (5. cxd5 and 7. Qd1)

Drill 16: 4. a4 after Nc3 (5. cxd5 and 7. Qe3)

Drill 17: 4. a4 after Nc3 (5. Nf3 - A Transposition)

Drill 18: 4. a4 after Nc3 (5. e3 - A Transposition)

Drill 19: 4. a4 after Nc3 (5. dxc5 and 7. Nxf6+)

Drill 20: 4. a4 after Nc3 (5. dxc5 and 7. Nd6+)

Strategy Quiz 7

Chapter 3: Queen's Gambit Declined - Only 3. Nc3

In the third chapter, we went over White’s very solid 4.e3, one of the most popular moves. We’ve also discussed some of the least popular moves such as 4.e4 or 4.a4. Now you have a solid response to all of them! 


In this chapter, we’ll take a look at the second most popular third move, which is 3.Nf3, occurring in almost 20% of the games. White waits a bit before revealing their setup to us, but we can mostly expect fourth moves like g3, Bg5, or Bf4.

White could also try to stop our idea of …b5 by pushing a4 right at the fourth move, so we’ll teach you how to deal with that as well.

Study 1: Queen's Gambit Declined - g3 Catalan Lines

Drill 1: QGD g3 Catalan Lines -  White plays 5. Bg2 with 6. Ne5 and 7. Nxc6 mainline

Drill 2: QGD g3 Catalan Lines -  White plays 5. a4

Drill 3: QGD g3 Catalan Lines -  White plays 5. Qa4+

Drill 4: QGD g3 Catalan Lines - White plays 5. Ne5

Drill 5: QGD g3 Catalan Lines - White plays 6. O-O

Drill 6: QGD g3 Catalan Lines - White plays 6. a4

Drill 7 : QGD g3 Catalan Lines -  White plays 6. Ne5 and 7. O-O

Quiz 1 

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Quiz 5 

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Quiz 9 

Study 2: Queen's Gambit Declined - 4. e3 Lines

Drill 8: QGD  White plays 4. e3 

Study 3: Queen's Gambit Declined - 4. Bg5, Bf4 and c5

Drill 9: QGD  White plays 4. Bg5

Drill 10: QGD  White plays 4. c5

Study 4: Fighting an Early 4. a4 after Nf3

Drill 11: The a6 QGD, With an Early 4. a4. (3.Nf3, 4. a4, 5. cxd5, 7. Bg5 and 8. e3)

Drill 12: The a6 QGD, With an Early 4. a4. (3.Nf3, 4. a4, 5. cxd5, 7. g3, 9. 0-0 and 10. Bf4)

Drill 13: The a6 QGD, With an Early 4. a4. (3.Nf3, 4. a4, 5. cxd5, 7. g3, 9. 0-0 and 10. dxc5)

Drill 14: The a6 QGD, With an Early 4. a4. (3.Nf3, 4. a4, 5. dxc5 and 6. cxd5)

Drill 15: The a6 QGD, With an Early 4. a4. (3.Nf3, 4. a4, 5. dxc5 and 6. e3)

Drill 16: The a6 QGD, With an Early 4. a4. (3.Nf3, 4. a4, 5. e3 and 7. Be2)

Drill 17: The a6 QGD, With an Early 4. a4. (3.Nf3, 4. a4, 5. Nc3 and 6. Qxd4)

Drill 18: The a6 QGD, With an Early 4. a4. (3.Nf3, 4. a4, 5. Nc3, 6. Nxd4, 7. Nf3 and 8. Nd5)

Drill 19: The a6 QGD, With an Early 4. a4. (3.Nf3, 4. a4, 5. Nc3, 6. Nxd4, 7. Nf3 and 8. Ne4)

Chapter 4: Beating the Catalan - Only 3. Nf3


In this setup, White chose to play the third most popular move Nf3. We had to change our setup a bit, since …dxc4 followed by …b5 could get stopped with 4.a4.

This chapter is about White abandoning the Queen’s Gambit. White doesn’t go for c4, but rather develops their knight to f3  — the second most popular move. We’ll discuss the Catalan setup that will occur after g3, and show an interesting way to stop White’s c4-push for good!

Study 1: Fighting the g3 Fianchetto Setup After 2. Nf3

Drill 1: The Nf3/g3 System with 4. e3 and 8. Nbd2

Drill 2: The Nf3/g3 System with 4. e3 and 8. axb5

Drill 3: The Nf3/g3 System with 4. e3 and 8. Nc3

Drill 4: The Nf3/g3 System with 4. Bg2 and 6. Ne5

Drill 5: The Nf3/g3 System with 4. Bg2 and 6. b3

Drill 6: The Nf3/g3 System with 4. Bg2 (6. a4, 7. a5 and 8. Ne5)

Drill 7: The Nf3/g3 System with 4. Bg2 (6. a4, 7. a5, 8. c4 and 10. Ne5)

Drill 8: The Nf3/g3 System with 4. Bg2 (6. a4, 7. a5, 8. c3 and 11. Nc3)

Drill 9: The Nf3/g3 System with 4. Bg2 (6. a4, 7. a5, 8. c3 and 11. Bd2)

Drill 10: The Nf3/g3 System with 4. Bg2 (6. a4, 7. c4, 8. bxc3 and 9. Na3)

Drill 11: The Nf3/g3 System with 4. Bg2 (6. a4, 7. c4, 8. bxc3 and 9. c4)

Drill 12: The Nf3/g3 System with 4. Bg2 (6. a4, 7. c4, 8. bxc3 and 9. a5)

Drill 13: The Nf3/g3 System with 4. Bg2 (6. a4, 7. c4, 8. Nxc3 and 9. Ne5)

Drill 14: The Nf3/g3 System with 4. Bg2 (6. a4, 7. c4, 8. Nxc3 and 9. Bg5)

Drill 15: The Nf3/g3 System with 4. Bg2 (6. a4, 7. c4, 8. Nxc3 and 9. Qb3)

Study 2: The Torre Attack after 2. Nf3 and Other Moves

Drill 16: The Torre Attack (3. Bg5 and 5. c3)

Drill 17: The Torre Attack (3. Bg5 and 5. g3)

Drill 18: The Torre Attack (3. Bg5 and 5. Nc3)

Drill 19: The Torre Attack (3. Bg5, 5. c4 and 6. Nc3)

Drill 20: The Torre Attack (3. Bg5, 5. e3)

Strategy Quiz 8

Strategy Quiz 9

Chapter 5: White Moves 2. Nf3

White didn’t go for c4 at all but developed their knight to f3 instead. This means that we were able to stop c4 with the interesting move …b5, which also prepared…Bb7 to contest White’s Catalan bishop on g2.

It wouldn’t be a QGD course without covering the London! Or at least a way that White can transpose into it. With the knight being on f3, after 2…e6, White can go for 3.Bf4, which is the most popular approach. 

We’ll also check out what to play if White goes for the London directly with 2.Bf4.

Study 1: The 2. Nf3 London

Drill 1. The 2. Nf3 London (4. Ne5)

Chapter 6: Beating The London

In this chapter you’ve learned how to counter the very solid London opening. White can go for it immediately with 2.Bf4, or transpose into it after 2.Nf3.