D38 Queen’s Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense
D38 holds three named lines, all under the name Queen’s Gambit. It leaves D37 (Queen’s Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation) with 4...Bb4. That final move, by the bishop, opens a line for the rook on h8, attacks the knight on c3 and pins the knight on c3 to its king. Of all other reference positions, the board of E21 (Nimzo-Indian Defense: Three Knights Variation) comes closest, two squares apart.
| # | White | Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | d4 | Nf6 |
| 2 | c4 | e6 |
| 3 | Nf3 | d5 |
| 4 | Nc3 | Bb4 |
Lines filed under D38
All three share their first eight plies, the whole reference line and then split two ways at White’s move 5.
| Name | After the shared start | Plies | At the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queen’s Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | (the shared start itself) | 8 | |
| Queen’s Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense, Alekhine Variation | 5.Qa4+ | 9 | check |
| Queen’s Gambit Declined: Westphalian Variation | 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 c5 | 12 |
Queen’s Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense, Alekhine Variation
- 5.Qa4+ The queen goes from d1 to a4, giving check.
Queen’s Gambit Declined: Westphalian Variation
- 5.Bg5 The bishop leaves c1 for g5, opening a line for the rook on a1 and the queen on d1, attacking the knight on f6.
- 5...Nbd7 The knight leaves b8 for d7, opening a line for the rook on a8.
- 6.e3 The e-pawn advances to e3, covering d4 and f4, opening a line for the queen on d1 and the bishop on f1.
- 6...c5 The c-pawn advances two squares to c5, covering b4 and d4, opening a line for the queen on d8.
The road to D38
- 1.d4 … 2...e6three earlier stops: A40, A45, A50
- 3.Nf3E10 Anti-Nimzo-Indian
- 4.Nc3D37 Three Knights Variation
- 4...Bb4D38
The position after 4...Bb4
White has brought out the knight on c3 and knight on f3; Black the knight on f6 and bishop on b4. White could capture with cxd5. White is to move and has 29 legal moves.
Codes that branch off from D38
The reference lines of one other code leave D38 from the position after 4...Bb4, each with its own moves.
| Code | Moves | Reference line |
|---|---|---|
| D39 | 5.Bg5 dxc4 | Queen’s Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense, Vienna Variation |
Closest boards in other codes
| Code | Line | Differs on |
|---|---|---|
| D35 | Queen’s Gambit Declined: Normal Defense | four squares: g1, f3, b4, f8 |
| D40 | Queen’s Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch Defense | four squares: b4, c5, c7, f8 |
| D43 | Semi-Slav Defense | four squares: b4, c6, c7, f8 |
| E11 | Bogo-Indian Defense | four squares: b1, c3, d5, d7 |
| E20 | Nimzo-Indian Defense | four squares: g1, f3, d5, d7 |
| E34 | Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Noa Variation | four squares: d1, g1, c2, f3 |
| B14 | Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack | six squares: g1, e2, f3, b4, c7, f8 |
Where lines continue from here
One named line filed under other codes passes through the position after 4...Bb4. It belongs to the code listed above.