Theoria
8765432abcdefgh1

Queen's Gambit Declined

Westphalian Variation

D38positional

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4e6
  3. 3.Nf3d5
  4. 4.Nc3Bb4
  5. 5.Bg5Nbd7
  6. 6.e3c5
529 games43%53%

A Ragozin line of the Queen's Gambit Declined in which Black answers Bg5 with ...Nbd7 and an early ...c5, aiming for active central counterplay.

Train it in Theoria

About the Westphalian Variation

The Westphalian Variation is a branch of the Ragozin Variation. Black meets 5. Bg5 with 5...Nbd7 rather than 5...h6 or 5...dxc4, and after 6. e3 strikes at the center with 6...c5. The same setup can arise after 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 c5. White most often answers with 7. cxd5, and 7. a3 and 7. Bd3 are the main alternatives. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, and Black has scored well in online games.

Popular continuations