Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...dxc4/3. Nc3

Queen's Gambit Accepted rd nd bd qd kd bd nd rd pd pd pd pd pd pd pd pd pl nl pl pl pl pl pl pl rl bl ql kl bl nl rl 3. Nc3 Two players have labeled this move misguided, as the knight is vulnerable here to a b7-b5-b4 advance. It also doesn't control d4 or e5, two important squares in Queen's Gambit Accepted positions. The most common and highest-scoring response for Black is to follow up with 3...a6, preparing a future ...b5 thrust which will introduce the idea of attacking the knight with ...b4, whilst also claiming that Black can keep ahold of the pawn with suitable defence. This usually leads to a firefight on the queenside, with a4 usually being played sooner rather than later by White in order to disrupt Black's defence of the c-pawn. The less common 3...c6 transposes to a position in the Slav defence, with a similar idea in mind. Theory table . 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nc3 3 4 56Queen's Gambit AcceptedNc3c6e3b5a4b4Ne4Qd5 =......e4b5a4b4Nb1Ba6=...a6a4Nc6Nf3Nf6e4Bg4=/+...............Bg4e3Na5=/+ ...............e5Nxe5Nxe5 =/+ ......e3b5a4b4Bxc4e6= Queen's Gambit Accepted