Theoria
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Queen's Gambit Declined

Semi-Tarrasch Defense, Main Line

D42solidpositional

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4e6
  3. 3.Nf3d5
  4. 4.Nc3c5
  5. 5.cxd5Nxd5
  6. 6.e3Nc6
  7. 7.Bd3
145 games57%40%

Queen's Gambit Declined line in which White answers the Semi-Tarrasch with the restrained 6. e3 and 7. Bd3, producing a quiet, roughly balanced game.

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About the Main Line

The Main Line of the Semi-Tarrasch Defense has White meet 5. cxd5 Nxd5 with the modest 6. e3, declining to occupy the center with 6. e4. After 6...Nc6 7. Bd3, the c- and d-files are half-open, and the engine regards the position as roughly balanced. Black most often clarifies the center at once with 7...cxd4. The main alternatives are 7...Be7, which continues development, and 7...Nxc3. The line is seldom reached in practice.

Popular continuations