Chess Openings Lab
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Queen's Gambit Accepted: Showalter Variation

The Showalter Variation is 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3, developing the queen's knight to support e4 instead of playing e3. White plans e4 to win back c4 with a big center, while Black uses ...a6 and ...b5 or ...e6 and ...Bb4 to counter.

Moves
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3
ECO
D24
Engine
+0.10 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
689 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.2%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Push e4 next, as all engine lines show, and use e5 to kick the f6 knight.
  • Answer ...b5 with a4 to undermine the queenside pawns, as in the top engine line.
  • Against ...Bb4, pin with Bg5 and take on c4 with the bishop later.
  • Use Ne5 to win back c4 against slower moves like ...c6 and ...Bf5.

Black

  • Play 4...a6, the top engine move, preparing ...b5 to keep the c4 pawn.
  • The ...e6 and ...Bb4 plan pins the c3 knight and hits e4.
  • With ...c6 and ...Bf5, develop the bishop before ...e6 for a solid Slav-like setup.
  • After e5, put the knight on d5 and support it with ...e6.

Plans and pawn structure

White's Nc3 prepares e4 but leaves the c4 pawn unguarded for a moment. In the 4...a6 line, Black holds with ...b5 and White hits back with e4, e5 and a4, leading to a sharp queenside fight. In the 4...e6 line, Black pins with ...Bb4 and White can take on f6 with the g5 bishop and then win back c4. The 4...c6 lines are calmer, with White regaining c4 using Ne5.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.10: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.10 4...a6 5.e4 b5 6.e5 Nd5 7.a4
  2. +0.23 4...e6 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6
  3. +0.33 4...c6 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

689 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.2%.

under 120051.1%
1200–159951.6%
1600–199953.4%
2000 and up51.3%

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

Where it goes next

  • Bogoljubow Defense4...a6 · rare
  • Gunsberg Defense, Prianishenmo Gambit4...c5 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, choose a clear setup: ...a6 with ...b5, or ...e6 with ...Bb4. Avoid half-measures that let White play e4 for free. As White, push e4 quickly and be ready for a4 against ...b5. Against ...c6, Ne5 wins back c4 smoothly.

Questions

What are the moves of the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Showalter Variation?

The Queen's Gambit Accepted: Showalter Variation starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3. Its ECO code is D24.

Is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Showalter Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.10 at depth 20, which is level. In 689 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.2%. A sharper choice for White players who want e4 in one go, while Black needs to know which setup to adopt early.

What is the main idea of the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Showalter Variation?

White develops Nc3 to prepare e4 and a big center. Black either holds c4 with ...a6 and ...b5 or pins with ...e6 and ...Bb4, leading to sharp queenside or central play.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is a6, with e6 and c6 close behind. 4...a6 prepares ...b5 to keep the c4 pawn, inviting e4 and a4 in reply.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.