Miles Variation
- 1.d4Nf6
- 2.c4e6
- 3.Nf3d5
- 4.Nc3Be7
- 5.Bg5O-O
- 6.Qc2
584 games
A Queen's Gambit Declined sideline in which White answers Black's early castling with 6. Qc2, an early queen move leading to balanced, maneuvering play.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Miles Variation
The Miles Variation arises after 5. Bg5 O-O 6. Qc2. In this Bg5 line with the knight on f3, White develops the queen before committing the e-pawn or the f1-bishop. From c2 the queen eyes h7 along the b1-h7 diagonal. Black most often replies 6...h6 to question the bishop. 6...b6 and 6...Nbd7 follow in frequency, and the engine also likes 6...dxc4 and 6...c5. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, and the line is seldom seen.