Theoria
8765432abcdefgh1

Queen's Gambit Accepted

Alekhine Defense, Haberditz Variation

D22tacticaloffbeat

  1. 1.d4d5
  2. 2.c4dxc4
  3. 3.Nf3a6
  4. 4.e3b5
509 games56%40%

A Queen's Gambit Accepted line in which Black plays 4...b5 to hold the extra c4-pawn, loosening the queenside and granting White a slight edge.

Train it in Theoria

About the Haberditz Variation

The Haberditz Variation, 4...b5, answers White's quiet 4. e3 by following up 3...a6 with an immediate ...b5, aiming to keep the extra pawn on c4. The price is a loosened queenside. The most common reply by far is 5. a4, which hits the pawn chain at once. 5. Nc3 and 5. b3 are also played. White scores well in practice, and the engine gives White a slight edge.

Popular continuations