Theoria
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Queen's Gambit Declined

Cambridge Springs Defense, Bogoljubow Variation

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  1. 1.d4d5
  2. 2.c4c6
  3. 3.Nf3Nf6
  4. 4.Nc3e6
  5. 5.Bg5Nbd7
  6. 6.e3Qa5
  7. 7.Nd2Bb4
  8. 8.Qc2
617 games51%42%

A Cambridge Springs line in which White meets 7...Bb4 with 8. Qc2, shoring up the pinned c3-knight; play stays tactical around c4, e4 and g5.

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About the Bogoljubow Variation

After 7. Nd2 Bb4, the move 8. Qc2 adds a defender to the pinned knight on c3 and watches e4, where ...Ne4 often arrives. The most frequent reply is 8...dxc4. After 8...O-O, 9. Bh4 is the Argentine Variation, but the natural 9. Bd3 drops a piece to 9...dxc4. 8...Ne4 is also common. The engine rates the position roughly balanced, and in online games 8...O-O has scored best for Black.

Popular continuations