Chess Openings Lab
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Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Variation

The Queen's Knight Variation is 3.Nc3 in the Queen's Gambit Declined, adding a second attacker to d5 before White commits the king's knight. Black chooses the whole character of the game here, from ...Nf6 and ...Be7 to ...c5 for the Tarrasch or ...c6 for the Semi-Slav.

Moves
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3
ECO
D31
Engine
+0.18 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
6,179 games in our lichess sample
White scores
56.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Keep options open: Nf3, Bg5 or Bf4, and cxd5 can all follow depending on Black's third move.
  • Against 3...Bb4, Bd2 and Qa4+ with a3 win the bishop pair, as the engine line shows.
  • Against 3...Be7, take cxd5 exd5 and play Bf4, since Bg5 would just trade bishops.
  • The c3 knight supports a later e4 push, especially after Black's ...dxc4.

Black

  • 3...Nf6 is the main move, leading to the Normal Defense and its many branches.
  • ...c5 gives the Tarrasch, accepting an isolated d5 pawn for free piece play.
  • ...c6 heads for the Semi-Slav, keeping a solid c6-d5-e6 pawn chain intact.
  • 3...Bb4 pins the knight at once and can double White's pawns after ...Bxc3.

Plans and pawn structure

The c3 knight locks in the pressure on d5, so Black must pick a structure now. The main path is ...Nf6, ...Be7 and ...O-O with ...c5 or ...dxc4 later. The Tarrasch gives Black an isolated pawn and activity, while the Semi-Slav keeps a firm chain and plans ...dxc4 and ...b5. White's plans follow: Bg5 or Bf4 pressure, cxd5 with a minority attack, or e4 when Black allows it.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.18: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.18 3...Nf6 4.Nf3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Qxd4
  2. +0.21 3...Bb4 4.Bd2 Nf6 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.a3
  3. +0.30 3...Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 Nf6 6.e3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

6,179 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 56.8%.

under 120055.4%
1200–159957.5%
1600–199957.3%
2000 and up54.1%

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

Traps and pitfalls

Elephant Trap (Black sets it)

White takes the d5 pawn with 6.Nxd5, trusting the pin on the f6 knight. Black breaks the pin with 6...Nxd5, and after 7.Bxd8 Bb4+ White must give the queen back, ending up a piece down.

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The Elephant Trap explained

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, choose a system you know: 3...Nf6 for standard development, ...c6 for the Semi-Slav, or ...c5 for the Tarrasch. Avoid early ...dxc4 without support, which lets White push e4 with tempo. Against Bb4 pins, know where your bishop retreats.

Questions

What are the moves of the Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Variation?

The Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Variation starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3. Its ECO code is D31.

Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.18 at depth 20, which is level. In 6,179 lichess games from our sample, White scored 56.8%. A flexible main move for White; Black has many sound choices but must know the structure it picks.

What is the main idea of the Queen's Gambit Declined: Queen's Knight Variation?

White adds pressure to d5 with the knight before choosing a setup. Black now chooses the structure: classical ...Nf6, the Tarrasch with ...c5, or the Semi-Slav with ...c6.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nf6, with Bb4 and Be7 close behind. 3...Nf6 develops and supports d5, leading to the most classical QGD positions.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.