Chess Openings Lab
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Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation

The Janowski-Larsen Variation is 4.e3 Bg4, developing the light-squared bishop and pinning the f3 knight before ...e6. White recaptures on c4 and develops normally, while Black plans ...e6, ...Nc6 and ...Bb4 for active piece play.

Moves
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4
ECO
D25
Engine
+0.50 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
246 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play 5.Bxc4, the engine's top choice, and follow with Nc3 and O-O.
  • Ask the bishop a question with h3; after ...Bh5, g4 later can gain space.
  • Develop the queen to b3 to hit b7 now that the c8 bishop has left.
  • Use Nc3 and e4 to grab the center once castled, gaining time against the f6 knight.

Black

  • Play ...e6 and ...Nc6, then ...Bb4 to add pressure on c3 and e4.
  • The ...e5 break comes fast after 5.Nc3 e5, opening lines for the pieces.
  • Keep the pin on f3 with ...Bh5 if White plays h3, unless the bishop is needed elsewhere.
  • Watch b7: with the c8 bishop gone, Qb3 can hit that pawn at once.

Plans and pawn structure

Black develops the bishop outside the pawn chain, so b7 can become weak. White plays Bxc4, Nc3 and O-O, and can use Qb3 or e4 to gain the initiative. Black wants ...e6, ...Nc6, ...Bb4 and castling, with ...e5 as the freeing break. If White plays h3 and g4, the bishop can be pushed to g6 or traded, so Black must keep an eye on the h5 and g6 squares.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.50: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.50 5.Bxc4 e6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.O-O Bb4
  2. +0.49 5.Nc3 e5 6.Bxc4 exd4 7.exd4 Nc6
  3. +0.47 5.h3 Bh5 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bxc4 Nbd7

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

246 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.6%.

1200–159957.6%
1600–199948.0%
2000 and up52.9%

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

How to play against it

As White, recapture on c4 and develop; consider Qb3 to hit b7. As Black, play ...e6 and ...Nc6 quickly and keep the bishop safe. Don't let a quick e4 and d5 push catch your pieces unprepared. If White plays h3, decide at once whether to retreat to h5 or trade on f3.

Questions

What are the moves of the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation?

The Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4. Its ECO code is D25.

Is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.50 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 246 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.6%. A practical choice for Black players who dislike passive bishops, while White gets a simple development lead and must keep an eye on Qb3 ideas.

What is the main idea of the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Janowski-Larsen Variation?

Black develops the light-squared bishop to g4 before ...e6, pinning the f3 knight. White regains c4 and develops, with Qb3 or e4 as ways to exploit the open b7 pawn.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Bxc4, with Nc3 and h3 close behind. 5.Bxc4 regains the pawn and prepares Nc3 and castling.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.