Rosenthal Variation

The Rosenthal Variation, 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6, delays the usual 3...Nf6 in favor of opening the diagonal of the f8-bishop at once. Black does not try to keep the c4-pawn. Instead, the aim is to finish development and then challenge d4 with ...c5, so the plans resemble those of the main Queen's Gambit Accepted. The position also arises often from a Queen's Gambit Declined move order, 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 dxc4. The early ...e6 reduces Black's choice of setups, since ...e5 now costs a tempo and the c8-bishop is shut in behind the e6-pawn.

White's most frequent reply is 4. Nc3, which develops and prepares e4. The quieter 4. e3 prepares Bxc4, and after 4...Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 the game transposes to the classical line. The direct 4. e4 takes the center with gain of time, while 4. Qa4+ regains the pawn immediately. A kingside fianchetto with 4. g3 is another option. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, but White scores well in online games.