Chess Openings Lab
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Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense

The Classical Defense of the Queen's Gambit Accepted is 5.Bxc4 c5, where Black strikes at d4 right after White regains the pawn. White chooses between castling, Nc3 or Qe2, while Black aims for ...a6, ...b5 and a quick ...cxd4 to free the game.

Moves
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5
ECO
D26
Engine
+0.24 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
400 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Castle with 6.O-O and consider 7.dxc5, which leads to an early queen trade and a small endgame edge.
  • Develop 6.Nc3 and push e4 for space, as the second engine line shows.
  • Play Qe2 and Rd1 to set up the d-file against Black's queen and the c5 pawn.
  • An isolated d4 pawn after ...cxd4 and exd4 gives White space for Ne5 and kingside play.

Black

  • Play ...a6 and ...b5 to gain time on the c4 bishop and develop the bishop to b7.
  • Take on d4 at the right moment to create an isolated pawn or trade queens.
  • Develop the f8 bishop after the trade on c5, recapturing toward the center.
  • Keep ...Nc6 and ...Qc7 as backup to pressure d4 and control the e5 square.

Plans and pawn structure

The c5 strike makes the position open and flexible. After 6.O-O a6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8, the endgame is level but White has slightly more active pieces. If Black takes on d4 and White recaptures with the e3 pawn, an isolated d4 pawn appears: White attacks with Ne5 and the kingside, Black blockades on d5. The ...a6 and ...b5 queenside expansion gives Black space and a strong b7 bishop.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.24: level. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.24 6.O-O a6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8
  2. +0.21 6.Nc3 a6 7.Bb3 b5 8.e4 Bb7
  3. +0.17 6.Qe2 a6 7.O-O b5 8.Bd3 cxd4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

400 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.8%.

1600–199953.9%
2000 and up52.2%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Classical, Flohr Variation6.O-O · rare
  • Classical, Furman Variation6.Qe2 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, play ...a6 and ...b5 to push the bishop back, then develop ...Bb7. Choose ...cxd4 only when you are ready to blockade d5. As White, keep the bishop active and decide early whether you want an isolated d4 pawn or the queen trade.

Questions

What are the moves of the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense?

The Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5. Its ECO code is D26.

Is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.24 at depth 20, which is level. In 400 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.8%. A trusted, solid line for Black players who like clear structures, while White needs to choose between the queenless middlegame and an isolated pawn fight.

What is the main idea of the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical Defense?

Black challenges d4 with ...c5 right after White regains the pawn. Play often leads to an isolated d4 pawn or a queen trade, with Black using ...a6 and ...b5 to gain queenside space.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is O-O, with Nc3 and Qe2 close behind. 6.O-O castles and prepares dxc5, which can lead to an early queen trade and a quiet edge.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.