Theoria
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Queen's Gambit Declined

Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein Attack

D64positionalsolid

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4e6
  3. 3.Nf3d5
  4. 4.Nc3Be7
  5. 5.Bg5O-O
  6. 6.e3Nbd7
  7. 7.Rc1c6
  8. 8.Qc2
380 games50%45%

A Queen's Gambit Declined Orthodox line in which White plays 8. Qc2, postponing Bd3 in the tempo battle over ...dxc4; a balanced positional choice.

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About the Rubinstein Attack

The Rubinstein Attack is White's 8. Qc2 in the Orthodox main line, played instead of the usual 8. Bd3. The queen move is another useful waiting move. White keeps the king's bishop at home so that ...dxc4 still fails to gain Black a tempo. Akiba Rubinstein played it frequently. The most common reply is 8...h6, ahead of 8...Re8 and 8...a6. The line is rarely seen, and the engine rates the position as roughly balanced.

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